democracia participativa y derechos humanos / participatory democracy & human rights

Transaction Publishers have just placed in the non-fiction book market a real jewel of history research, titled "Cold War in the Congo", by Frank Villafaña, who became interested in the Congo as a Cuban exiled to Belgium from 1968 to 1984.

Villafaña was very much aware on how much the history of Cuban intervention in the Congo has been neglected by impartial historians.  Up to now, researchers could only find the Cuban regime side of those events following Congo's independence, with one-sided praise for the "heroic" Cuban intervention lead by Ernesto "Che" Guevara.  The fact that he was defeated was for this version of history just a footnote.

Therefore, the author spent 9 years of his life after retirement traveling and conducting research on the Cuban intervention in Congo, but very specially on the so far unknown Cuban exile participation among the forces facing Che Guevara and the Communist rebels.  While Enrique Ros briefly mentions Che's adventure in Congo in his "La Aventura Africana de Fidel Castro" and Juan F. Benemelis devotes a 14-page Chapter of his book (Las guerras secretas de Fidel Castro) to "Congo:  el Vietnam Cubano", only Benemelis has a very succinct information about Cuban exiles in that theater of the Cold War.  In addition, both books are available in Spanish only.

"Cold War in the Congo" is thus the first book to deal widely on this aspect of Cuban exiles fighting in Congo against Che Gevara's forces and it is the only book in English ever mentioning in depth Cuban intervention in that country.

In addition, "Cold War in the Congo" explores the reasons for such early Castro's involvement in African affairs.  Villafaña considers whether Castro was operating with a master plan, of which Africa was a key.  It is also interesting to read his dispassionate analysis on Castro's choice of Che Guevara to head the ill-fated military expedition.

He questions why the United States first allowed Castro to freely export his revolution, and then allowed Cuban exiles to enter the fight to prevent the mineral riches of Congo from falling into the hands of international Communism. Villafaña shows that Miami Cuban exiles were instrumental in thwarting Castro's plans for Congo, which were believed to have included a confederacy with Tanzania and the French Congo (Brazzaville), to gain control of Central Africa and its vast resources.

This was the prelude to the successful Cuban intervention in Angola years later and serves as a good historical background to following events in Central Africa.

"Cold War in the Congo" might be recommended to anyone interested in delving on the deep secrets of history.  But it is also a readable story of adventure and intrigue.  A story even more striking because it is true history.