Congo Diary: The Story of Che Guevara's "Lost" Year in Africa

Featuring a foreword by Gabriel Garcia Marquez ("Che Guevara in Africa"), this book fills in the missing chapter in Che Guevara's life as head of the secret Cuban force that went to aid the liberation movement in the Congo against the Belgian colonialists in 1965. The idea was to prepare a group of Cubans for the mission to Bolivia, as well as to assist African national liberation movements.

This diary remained unpublished for decades because of its controversial content, but, like his other diaries, reveals Che's great literary gift, his razor-sharp intellect, his dry wit, and his brutal honesty. Because this diary deals with what Che admits was a "failure," he examines every painful detail about what went wrong in order to draw constructive lessons for future expeditions.

This publication of the complete Congo Diary has been thoroughly revised by Che's widow, Aleida March, and published in association with the Che Guevara Studies Center in Havana.

Features:

• Forewords by Gabriel Garcia Marquez ("Che Guevara in Africa") and Che's daughter, Aleida Guevara
• Twenty-eight pages of unpublished photos
• Extensive notes and glossary explaining Swahili terms
• Backcover blurbs by Nelson Mandela and Gabriel Garcia Marquez

The story of Che Guevaras year in Africa

Che Guevaras intriguing account of the revolutionary war in the Congo, filling in the missing chapter in his life. Prior to his fateful mission to Bolivia, in 1965 Che led a secret Cuban force that went to aid the African national liberation movement against the Belgian colonialists.

Now thoroughly revised by Ches widow Aleida March, this diary remained unpublished for decades because of its controversial content, but, like his other diaries, reveals Ches great literary gift, his razor-sharp intellect, his dry wit and brutal honesty.

“Che Guevara's feats in our continent were of such magnitude that no prison or censorship could hide them from us. His life is an inspiration for every human being who loves freedom.” —Nelson Mandela

“Che Guevara, at the prime of his life and the height of his fame, went off to fight in the Congo. In that fleeting, anonymous passage through Africa, Che Guevara was to sow a seed that no one will destroy.”—Gabriel García Márquez (foreword)

Aleida Guevara is the eldest daughter of Ernesto Che Guevara and Aleida March. She works as a pediatrician in Havana and has been a prominent speaker at the World Social Forums.

Maps of the guerrillas zone of operations in the Congo

Che Guevara in Africa by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Foreword by Aleida Guevara

Authors Preface: Initial warning

First Act

Second Act

First Impressions

The First Month

A Hope Dies

A Defeat

The Shooting Star

Winds from the West, Breezes from the East

Breaking Loose

Sowing the seed

Attempting pursuit

The Patient grows Worse

Taking the Pulse

The Beginning of the End

A Battle against time

Various Escapes

Disaster

The Whirlwind

A Stab in the Back

The Eastern Front sinks into a Coma

The Collapse

Epilogue

Notes

Appendix:

List of Cuban combatants

Glossary