THE SIEGE OF JADOTVILLE EXPOSES UN MISMANGEMENT IN THE CONGO
In 1961, the newly independent Congo was in turmoil. President Patrice Lumumba proceeded to do business with the Soviet Union, but he was assassinated. His successor, Joseph Kasavubu, did not have the support of Moise Tshombe, prime minister of the mineral-rich province of Katanga, which armed to seek recognition as an independent state and found support from troops sent from Belgium to defend their mining companies after Lumumba had ordered them nationalized. German, French, and South African mercenaries who had fought in Algeria then joined the Belgians and Katangese. To stop the secession, which primarily meant demanding the withdrawal of Belgian troops, the UN authorized the dispatch of neutral troops to Katanga from India, Ireland, and Sweden. One such force, a company of 155 Irish troops, was assigned to defend the mining town of Jadotville, where they discovered upon arrival that they were not welcome. Without a strategic plan, UN advisor Dr. Conor Cruise O’Brien authorized a military attack against the mercenaries and their Katanga allies, whereupon the Irish bore the brunt of a Katanga counteroffensive that even involved the death of Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold while he flew into Katanga to negotiate an end to the conflict. The Siege of Jadotville is the story of how the Irish soldiers, who had never known battle before, were ordered to defend themselves for five days despite being greatly outnumbered by secessionist forces, and how they were forced to surrender after a valiant armed resistance, though not a single one died despite overwhelming odds. Their surrender was at the time considered a blot on the reputation of Ireland and the UN and was covered up. But in 2005, they were considered heroes upon publication of the book by Declan Power, The Siege at Jadotville: The Irish Army’s Forgotten Battle. More details are explained in titles at the end of the film. Director Richie Smyth focuses on Irish Commandant Pat Quinlan (played by Jamie Dornan) whose leadership enabled his troops to hold out during four days of attacks. (Filming, however, was in South Africa.) The Political Film Society has nominated The Siege of Jadotville as the best film exposé of 2016. MH