Mercenary Commander by Jerry Puren and Brian Pottinger is a gripping work of military history that chronicles the extraordinary true story of Jerry Puren, a South African soldier of fortune who became a mercenary commander during one of Africa’s most turbulent periods. Set against the backdrop of the Belgian Congo’s descent into chaos following independence in 1960, this account offers a firsthand look at the brutal and complex conflicts that erupted when colonial rule collapsed.
Spanning Puren’s time in the secessionist province of Katanga from 1961 to 1963, Mercenary Commander delves into the violent battles, political intrigue, and raw survival tactics of mercenary life in the Congo. The book vividly recreates a world of shifting loyalties and relentless danger, as rebel factions, foreign interests, and United Nations troops fought for control of a fragmented nation. Co-authored by journalist Brian Pottinger, it blends personal memoir with wider historical context, offering readers both a soldier’s perspective and a clear-eyed analysis of the era’s geopolitics.
Ideal for readers interested in African military history, post-colonial conflicts, and true war stories, Mercenary Commander is a harrowing yet fascinating account of a little-known chapter in 20th-century warfare.
