4th Commando Battalion (Belgium)
| 4th Commando Battalion (1959-1962) 4th (Reserve) Commando Battalion (c.1970-1979) |
|
|---|---|
| Active | 1959-62, c.1970-79 |
| Country |
 Belgium
|
| Branch | Belgian Army |
| Type | Commando |
| Part of | Paracommando Regiment |
| Garrison/HQ |
Kitona, Belgian Congo (1959-60) Kisenyi, Rwanda-Urundi (1960-62) |
| Engagements | Congo Crisis |
The 4th Commando Battalion (French: 4e Bataillon Commando, Dutch: 4de Bataljon Commando) was a Belgian military formation and part of the Paracommando Regiment, based in the Belgian colonies of Congo and Rwanda-Urundi between 1959 until its disbandment in 1962, following the independence of Belgium's last African colony. In the 1970s, the unit was revived as 4th (Reserve) Commando Battalion before it was finally disbanded in 1979.
In 1959, the 2nd Commando Battalion had been deployed to the Belgian Congo to deal try to maintain order in the months leading up to independence. However, it soon became clear that these forces would not be sufficient. Realising this, the 4th Commando Battalion was formed, from 2nd Commando Battalion officers and hastily trained conscripts.
4th Commando Battalion was created by Royal Decree (N.7397) by King Baudoin on October 23, 1959. The standard was presented to the unit on April 1, 1960.
4th Commando Battalion was established in the Congolese town of Kitona in Bas-Congo. In April 1960, it was transferred to Rwanda-Urundi.
In Rwanda-Urundi, the 4th Commando Battalion was instrumental in keeping peace between the Hutu and Tutsi populations. Antipathy between these two groups had been growing since 1957, though would finally culminate in the Rwandan Genocide of 1994.
From their base in Rwanda-Burundi, the battalion was also mobilized for operations in nearby towns in the Congo. In July 1960, the unit was sent to Goma to seize the airfield and one company was parachuted into Bunia to free hostages. Three Belgians were killed in this operation. In January 1961, a company of the battalion repelled an attack by the Congolese National Army on the town of Goma, losing one soldier.
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