Congo Diary: Episodes of the Revolutionary War in the Congo

by Ernesto Che Guevara

Ernesto Che Guevara's diary of his revolutionary struggle in Congo alongside Cuban guerrillas.

In April 1965, Che Guevara set out clandestinely from Havana to Congo to head a force of some 200 veteran Cuban soldiers to assist the African liberation movement against Belgian colonialists, four years after the assassination of the democratically elected socialist president of Congo, Patrice Lumumba.
 
This diary deals with what Che admits was a "failure," and he examines every painful detail about what went wrong in order to draw constructive lessons for planned future guerrilla movements. Unique among his books, Congo Diary gives us Che's brutal honesty and his story-telling ability as he recounts this fascinating episode of guerrilla warfare unblinkingly and without sugar coating or jargon. Considered by some to be Che's best book, it is also one of the few that he had a chance to edit for publication after writing it.

Genres: Africa, History, Nonfiction, Memoir, Politics, Biography

Paperback

First published November 2, 2021

About the author

Ernesto "Che" Guevara, commonly known as El Che or simply Che, was a Marxist revolutionary, physician, author, intellectual, guerrilla leader, diplomat, and military theorist. A major figure of the Cuban Revolution, since his death Guevara's stylized visage has become an ubiquitous countercultural symbol and global icon within popular culture.

His belief in the necessity of world revolution to advance the interests of the poor prompted his involvement in Guatemala's social reforms under President Jacobo Arbenz, whose eventual CIA-assisted overthrow solidified Guevara's radical ideology. Later, while living in Mexico City, he met Raúl and Fidel Castro, joined their movement, and travelled to Cuba with the intention of overthrowing the U.S.-backed Batista regime. Guevara soon rose to prominence among the insurgents, was promoted to second-in-command, and played a pivotal role in the successful two year guerrilla campaign that topled the Cuban government.

After serving in a number of key roles in the new government, Guevara left Cuba in 1965 to foment revolution abroad, first unsuccessfully in Congo-Kinshasa and later in Bolivia, where he was captured by CIA-assisted Bolivian forces and executed.

Guevara remains both a revered and reviled historical figure, polarized in the collective imagination in a multitude of biographies, memoirs, essays, documentaries, songs, and films. Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century, while an Alberto Korda photograph of him entitled "Guerrillero Heroico," was declared "the most famous photograph in the world" by the Maryland Institute of Art.

Reviews

[Redmar Leeuwendal · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mmm… This book was not for me. If you are into war strategy, this book is perfect. Every move of Che’s revolutionary troops is documented perfectly. This was for me, however, why I did not enjoy reading it. It was really long-winded and I often lost track in the whirlwind of statistics and formal letters. I actually skipped some parts of the book because I did not know where I was in the story. Would not recommend if you want to learn about the Congolese revolution. Just read reference work about it and leave this book to the diehard Che fans.

[Matan Tal · Rating 2 out of 5]

By it's an overall story arc or narrative, it had the potential to be a tremendous book. Because the narrative of Che in the Congo, as a story, is Incredible. But the diary itself is unnecessarly repetitive and lacks a good editing. Only die hard Che Guevara "fans" can finish this book, because I can't imagine anybody else reading page after page of no action and constant self-frustration. I recommend you to read "about" Che in the Congo, and not his actual diary.

[Raghav Chopra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly sober. Che’s moral conviction, and his revolutionary idealism come face to face with a dark and disappointing reality- “The Revolution” becomes a tool by which career politicians dine in Dar-E-Salaam and celebrate communism in Cairo, as untrained soldiers take to pillaging jungle villages with only the vaguest idea of what solidarity is. No one heroic guerrilla can liberate the Congo overnight, as Che learns.

The epilogue of the book was particularly well-written. Che is pithy, focuses on self-criticism, and yet he maintains dedicated to clear moral and political ideals throughout the painful failure of the Congolese revolution. Just as Che knew he is life alone could not win the revolution, he knew that his death alone would not lose it.

[Steph Baard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Che ventures with great difficulty, planning and ideals into tough country - he finds 'soldiers' that run first, and maybe ask questions later. The problems soon mount, as Che attempts to operate a war while stomachs come first. Guevara's blatant honesty in his reports help illuminate various important factors so as to do what is most critical when losing: to continue learning.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting, if rather dull and repetitive rendering of a revolutionary war. Che definitely practiced what he preached: active participation in revolution. One thing this diary, and his other ones too, show me is how unbelievably different the world was in the 1960's. I cannot even imagine an individual of this fame, popularity, and politics participating in a military revolution or guerrilla war in 2022. History has not been kind to this moment, and Che's admiration for Laurent Kabila reads terribly knowing the African militant became one of the worst, most violent, repressive heads of state. I have always wondered what drove Che to believe these guerrilla tactics would ever result in global revolution. I still think his success in Cuba tainted his approach. Taking nothing away from the overthrow of the Cuban government, there no way any similar conditions existed in the Congo at this time, or if they ever had previously or afterwards. Not an exciting book, for sure, and likely only of true interest to history buffs and Che aficionados.

[Jorj Williams · Rating 2 out of 5]

I went into reading this book thinking that I would be finish it quickly and thoroughly enjoy it however this book took my AGES to read and I to be honest I only really enjoyed the epilogue and foreword. This book was so repetitive and focused more on the logistical side of the revolution so if you're into that then go ahead and read this. I found the epilogue to be deeply saddening as someone living in Southern Africa today as the revolutionary ideas that Che hoped would be realised has not had much effect here.

[Miguel Ángel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Concuerdo con alguno de los comentarios de abajo. Yo empecé el libro y tenía la esperanza de que fuera una gran historia, y en el fondo uno siente que sí, que está ocurriendo algo grandioso pero que el autor no te lo cuenta. Hay algunos momentos buenos, como la muerte de su compañero querido. Por lo demás, es bueno para entender quién era el Che más allá del mito.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read from a part of history I knew little about but a real slog through.

[shk · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story holds immense potential for adaptation into a movie or series.

The only factor preventing me from giving it a perfect rating was the absence of proper editing.