This review has been submitted to Air Force magazine.
Title: Biafra’s War
1967-1970
Editor: Al J Venter
ISBN: 978-1-910294-69-7
Publisher: Helion
Year: 2015
Hardcover
Pages: 314
Photos/Maps: 149
(b/w) 26 (c)/5
Like many conflicts
that ravaged the African continent in the years following the departure of the
Colonial powers, the Biafran War has been largely forgotten by the West. It is
indicative of how much society has changed that while the Rwandan genocide has
become a watch word for deliberate slaughter, the million or so victims of the
Biafran war, despite being mainly women and children subject to the cadaverous
effects of starvation, did not elicit the international outrage typical of
today’s responses. The author’s credibility in writing about this conflict is
enhanced by his having been in situ for a significant part of it. Thus he has
personally met many of the individuals that he writes about.
There are many
facets of Biafra that came to typify African engagements during this period -
the 1960’s and 70’s. In this case the engagement of third party nations
indirectly or directly supporting one side or the other (or blocking aid)
thereby influencing the outcome for national benefit. The British and Soviets
each had an interest in helping Nigeria remain united and proactively protected
their access to Nigerian oil; thereby finding themselves working together to
ensure its continuity. The Portuguese and South Africans, by contrast, favoured
Biafran sovereignty. The use of media to try and influence world opinion and
the marked lack of response, despite the impact on women and children of the
conflict, is indicative of the period in question. Venter’s insightful discussion
of these issues provides an interesting counterpoint to similar situations
today.
Not surprisingly,
it was logistics that ultimately spelled the end for the Biafran cause. Venter
goes into a great deal of detail discussing the lengths that the Biafran
government undertook trying to ensure a steady flow of supplies into their
enclave. Of particular note was the airbridge that served as the lifeline for
medicine, ammunition and food for the population. Using primarily Super Constellations
and Stratocruisers, these aircraft flew multiple missions per night into an
adhoc airfield under the constant threat of air interdiction or bombing. An
outstanding example and study in air logistics support.
Mercenaries also
played key roles for both the Biafrans and the Nigerians. Undertaking responsibility
as combat/transport pilots, trainers, communications and other specialist
tasks, they filled the void that the native soldiers could not. Their
experiences and treatment are extensively studied by the author and add to the
Wild West environment that reflected this region. Names that became synonymous
with mercenary operations throughout the African region added Biafra to their
battle honours: Count Gustav von Rosen, Mike Gibson, Jan Zumbach, Jay
Breytenbach, “Taffy” Williams, Rolf Steiner and Ares Klootwyk. Additionally,
groups such as Medecins Sans Frontieres also had their origins in Biafra and
are discussed at length by the author.
A further aspect of
note covered by the narrative was the extensive improvisation used by the
Biafrans to offset the lack of consistent logistics support. Thousands of
cottage industries coordinated by the Biafran government made uniforms,
distilled fuel, modified weapon systems, made tanks and developed unique
weapons (such as the Ojukwu Bucket that acted as a deadly yet primitive
claymore style mine). The creative ability of the Biafran people was extremely
noteworthy and flies in the face of many preconceived notions of African
peoples.
The author rounds
out his narrative with a look ahead and behind for this region of Africa. His
discussion of the causes of the fracture within the Nigerian confederation are
enlightening and insightful and his observations on the effects of Boko Haram
and the erosion of cohesion along religious as well as ethnic lines, cause for
concern.
