The United Nations Operation in the Congo was a United Nations peacekeeping force which was deployed in the Republic of the Congo in 1960 in response to the Congo Crisis. The ONUC was the UN's first peacekeeping mission with significant military capability, and remains one of the largest UN operations in size and scope.
Swedish ONUC peacekeeper in the Congo
United Nations peacekeeping forces from Iran, the Philippines and Sweden at Kamina Air Base in January 1963
Swedish troops plan offensive actions for Operation Grandslam
Swedish UN soldiers armed with submachine guns at an access road to Niemba in November 1961
Congo Crisis
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The Congo Crisis was a period of political upheaval and conflict between 1960 and 1965 in the Republic of the Congo. The crisis began almost immediately after the Congo became independent from Belgium and ended, unofficially, with the entire country under the rule of Joseph-Désiré Mobutu. Constituting a series of civil wars, the Congo Crisis was also a proxy conflict in the Cold War, in which the Soviet Union and the United States supported opposing factions. Around 100,000 people are believed to have been killed during the crisis.
Image: UN Baluba camp
Image: Wounded Swedish ONUC soldier
Image: Dragonrouge 2
Image: Jeunesse BALUBAKAT