White Legion | |
---|---|
Légion Blanc | |
Active | January 14 – late March/early April, 1997 |
Allegiance | Zaire |
Size | 276 mercenaries |
Engagements | First Congo War |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Colonel Christian Tavernier Colonel Jugoslav Petrušić Lieutenant Milorad Pelemiš |
Aircraft flown | |
Attack | Soko J-21 Jastreb Soko G-2 Galeb |
Attack helicopter | Mil Mi-24 |
Reconnaissance | Pilatus PC-6B Turbo-Porter |
Transport | Hawker Siddeley Andover Antonov An-26 |
The White Legion was a mercenary unit during the First Congo War (1996–97) employed on the side of Zaire President Mobutu Sese Seko. This group of several hundred men, mostly from former Yugoslavia, was given the task of defending the city of Kisangani and training Zairean troops. This effort was largely unsuccessful and in mid-March 1997 the mercenaries left the country.