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Part 1 The Cold War Era (1945–89), 7 The Belgian Intervention in the Congo—1960 and 1964

Robert Kolb

From: The Use of Force in International Law: A Case-Based Approach

Edited By: Tom Ruys, Olivier Corten, Alexandra Hofer

From: Oxford Public International Law (http://opil.ouplaw.com). (c) Oxford University Press, 2023. All Rights Reserved.date: 02 June 2023

Subject(s):
Precedent — International law and international relations

This chapter examines the interventions by Belgium in the Congo at the beginning of the 1960s. After recalling the facts of the crisis, it examines the legal positions of the main protagonists and the reactions of United Nations member states. The central issue turned around the legality of an intervention based on the consent of the local government and the issue of the forcible rescue of citizens abroad. The chapter concludes that the Congo precedent contributed to the shaping of modern international law on these issues.

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