1/10 The @irishexaminer has published an article on my research on why men from the Baluba tribe killed 9 Irish peacekeepers at Niemba in the Congo in 1960. It involves Belgian colonialism and Irish/UN antipathy to the Congolese government. https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/spotlight/arid-40080107.html?type=amp

2/10 In the summer/ autumn of 1960 UN / Irish foreign policy was deeply hostile to Congolese Prime Minister, Patrice Lumumba. He in turn wanted Irish troops out of the secessionist province of Katanga.

3/10 The secession of mineral rich Katanga was largely engineered by Belgium, with support from France, Britain, and the US. Irish / UN peacekeepers were initially instructed to cooperate with the Belgian/mercenary-led Katangan gendarmerie to avoid 'duplication'. Bad idea.

4/10 The Katangan gendarmerie was embarked on a systematic campaign of terror, burning and murdering in Baluba villages in the pro-Lumumba part of north Katanga (thousands were killed in 1960). Irish soldiers were told not to interfere.

5/10 Instead Irish UN soldiers worked on keeping the roads open, taking down Baluba roadblocks and guarding mines/trains. The Katangan gendarmerie used these roads to attack Baluba villages, often ignoring UN 'neutral zones'. The Irish offered medical care to the victims.

6/10 Irish/UN policy changed - slowly - after Lumumba was removed from office in a Western supported coup on 5 September. More African troops were sent to Katanga to join the Irish/Swedes, now that the more pro-Western Kasa-Vubu and Joseph Mobutu had seized power.

7/10 Later, in 1961, Irish troops were involved in efforts to end the secession of Katanga under UN representative Conor Cruise O'Brien - hence Jadotville etc. But UN/Irish foreign policy was very different in the summer/autumn of 1960.

8/10 I have the greatest respect for Ireland's peacekeeping contribution. A salient lesson from Niemba is the need to constantly analyse the geopolitical and local context in which peacekeepers are deployed / resource their mission accordingly. True for Congo, Chad + the future.

9/10 This research was published in a chapter in a volume on Ireland, the UN - Obligations and Responsibilities - edited by the excellent Michael Kennedy/Deirdre McMahon. I have uploaded an earlier draft on http://academia.edu  - sign up for an account is free, see next tweet.

10/10 ‘Flying into the Unknown: The Niemba Ambush and Ireland's Contribution to the United Nations Mission in the Congo' #peacekeeping @_IDFOC @DefenceIreland https://www.academia.edu/44482873/_Flying_into_the_Unknown_The_NIemba_Ambush_and_Irelands_Contribution_to_the_United_Nations_Mission_in_the_Congo_ via @academia