True Spies: Espionage | Investigation | Crime | Murder | Detective | Politics

Special Forces Kinshasa | Green Berets

Oct 29, 2024

James Stejskal, an ex-CIA operative and former Green Beret, shares gripping tales from his time in Zaire during political upheaval and the onset of the AIDS crisis. He navigates the chaos as tensions surge under dictator Mobutu Sese Seko, focusing on the critical role of the American embassy amidst violence. Intriguing anecdotes reveal dining under duress, security challenges, and the unexpected romance in a perilous setting. Stejskal paints a vivid picture of personal sacrifice and the complexities of safeguarding a nation in crisis.

48:45

Episode guests

James Stejskal

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Quick takeaways

James Stejskal's mission in Zaire highlighted the critical interplay of Cold War geopolitics and local instability during Mobutu's authoritarian regime.

Amidst the chaos of Kinshasa, Stayskull's personal connection with the consul general illustrates the resilience of human relationships in crisis situations.

Deep dives

The Turmoil of Zaire in the Early 1990s

Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of Congo, was under the authoritarian rule of Mobutu Sese Seko in 1992, leading to significant unrest. Mobutu's failure to pay military units resulted in a rebellion by paratroopers who began looting the capital, Kinshasa, forcing the airport's closure. The situation quickly escalated as civilians joined the uprising, demanding an end to Mobutu's dictatorship that had lasted nearly 26 years. This chaotic environment set the stage for James Stayskull, a U.S. Army Green Beret, who would soon navigate this dangerous context during his assignment.

Kinshasa Security Situation

02:27

Dinner with Danger & Safari Bar

04:02

Intro

2min

Turmoil in Zaire: Chaos and Conflict

14min

Navigating Danger: Life and Evacuation in Kinshasa

2min

Navigating Danger: Security and Romance in Kinshasa

8min

Dining Under Duress

4min

Turbulence and Ties in Central Africa

13min

Surveillance State: East Germany's Control Mechanisms

3min

Deep in the African rainforests, how do you hold together a decolonising nation in the wake of mass regional instability?

James Stejskal, ex-CIA and former Green Beret, tells the story of his time in Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. As the nation wrestles with its post-colonial identity, regional instability, and the AIDS crisis, James' job is to keep an exposed US Embassy safe and operating - giving Zaire its best chance to survive in the post-Cold War new world order...

From SPYSCAPE, the HQ of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Produced by Morgan Childs. Series producer Joe Foley. Music by Nick Ryan.

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