1978 Battle of Kolwezi

The Battle of Kolwezi (also known as Operation Bonite or Operation Leopard) was a successful airborne operation carried out in May 1978, by the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (2e REP) of the French Foreign Legion. It took place in what was then Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo), Central Africa.

The operation’s task was to rescue over 2,000 European hostages captured by local left-wing rebels. Because of the successful operation and its international media coverage, the 2e REP gained popularity across the world.