History
The city was created in 1937 to be the headquarters for the western mining group of the High Katanga Mining Association (UMHK).
On Saturday,13 May 1978, Ex - Katanges Soldiers supported by Angola, occupied the city. The government of Zaire asked Belgium, France, Morocco and the United States to restore order. The 2e REP, an elite paratroopers unit of the French Foreign Legion, were sent in to drive out the rebels and rescue any hostages. The Belgian army also deployed a force of some 750 Paracommando Regiment paratroopers and moved out just over 1,800 Europeans to other cities in the region. 700 Africans, including 250 rebels, 170 European hostages and 6 paratroopers died.
Near Kolwezi there is the static inverter plant of the HVDC Inga-Shaba.
Read more about this topic: Kolwezi
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