Force Publique

Force Publique
Force Publique soldiers on parade with their Belgian officer in the late 1940s
Active	1877–1960
Allegiance	Congo Free State (to 1908)  Belgian Congo (1908–1960) Republic of the Congo (1960)
Type	Colonial army
Size	c. 17,000 (1914)[1] c. 23,500 (1960)[2]
Nickname(s)	FP
Engagements	Congo–Arab War World War I World War II

The Force Publique (French: [fɔʁs pyblik], "Public Force"; Dutch: Openbare Weermacht) was the military of the Congo Free State and the Belgian Congo from 1877 to 1960. It was established after Belgian Army officers travelled to the Free State to found an armed force in the colony on Leopold II of Belgium's orders. The Force Publique was heavily involved in atrocities in the Congo Free State, and also saw action in the Congo–Arab War, World War I and World War II. It was renamed to the Congolese National Army in July 1960 after Congo gained independence from Belgian colonial rule.