Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1407425
electricity and drinking water supplies for Kinshasa. Pumping stations are no longer active. The rebels are just around 200 kilometers from the capital now. BATTLE OF N'DJILI AIRFIELD PWith the Rwandan troops conquering Matadi and the Inga Dam, and with the news suggesting that the rebels have taken over both Kivu provinces, and with Ugandans conquering Kisingani and Aru (100 kilometers from Sudan's bor- der), and after a rebellion breaks out in Kinshasa (the Rwanda troops supported by Banyamulenge took over the N'Dolo airfield in the heart of the city, also re- ceiving supplies from Goma, Laurent Kabila finds himself in a very uncom- fortable situation. He leaves the capital city onboard a Mi-8 helicopter flown by the South African mercenaries, moving to Katanga, awaiting the promised SADC support. On Aug. 8th, the first elements of Zimbabwe's SAS land at N'Djili, the se- cond airport in Kinshasa. They are led by Marshal Perence Shiri and General Mike Nyambuya. On Aug. 10th the Operation Sovereignty Legitimacy begins. Over the next two days, the N'Djili airfield is used to receive airlift support from charte- red Il-76 jets (coming from Russia and Ukraine), and Air Zaire airliners. The aircraft brings in more than 900 paratro- opers from Zimbabwe, also using the Cascavel APCs. Their main mission is to create a safe zone around the airfield, to create a gate for bringing reinforcements to Kinshasa. After a few days of fighting and hunting the Tutsi living in Kinshasa, the ZDF ZDF (Zimbabwean Defence Force) supported by Kabila's people, push the Rwandan and Banyamulenge troops from the heart of Kinshasa, ta- king over the N'Dolo airfield. Mass rape and murder spread in Congo, targeted against political adversaries, unwan- ted neighbors, and non-Tutsi members (immigrants and aliens for Bakongo in general). This status quo lasts for more than a year. It is estimated that around 70,000 persons were killed, with the use of shovels and machetes. The forces supporting Kabila, as the days go by, be- come stronger and stronger. This is not a circumstance that is desired by James Kabarebe wanting to move Kabila away from power. Time becomes his enemy. On August 11th Kabarebe launches an attack against Kasangulu, a small city, 45 kilometers from the Capital, following a small battle against Zimbabwe's SAS, and after losing 18 soldiers, one of his columns is stopped dead in its tracks. Over the coming week, the rebels make very slow progress, also being stopped by the SAS operators. Only after Aug. www.fragoutmag.com