4th Commando Battalion (Belgium)
The 4th Commando Battalion (, ) 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. Background 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 23 October 1959. The standard was presented to the unit on 1 April 1960. Operations in Congo and Rwanda-Urundi 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