Video footage from Central Africa shows Portuguese Airbornes (Tropas Paraquedistas) in heavy combat with african rebels in the area of Bambari in the Central African Republic earlier this month. The combat footage was recorded during a major operation that included 50 hours of heavy combat firefights and led to the seizure of a rebel base in the area of Bambari. Portuguese armed forces declared the operation a success with no own casualties .
The Airbornes of the Portuguese armed forces are currently operating under the United Nations’ peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic. The battle began when African rebels of the UPC (Union for Peace in the Central African Republic) launched a violent attack on the town of Bambari, some 400 kilometres from the capital Bangui, in a bid to seize resources and extort the local population by collecting taxes. The UPC is a former member of the Seleka rebel alliance, a coalition of mainly Muslim groups that seized power in the majority Christian country in 2013.
The Portuguese Airborne (Portuguese: Tropas Paraquedistas) are an elite infantry assault force, representing the bulk of the airborne forces of Portugal. They were created in 1956 as part of the Portuguese Air Force, being transferred to the Portuguese Army in 1993. Presently, most of the Paratroopers are part of the Portuguese Rapid Reaction Brigade which comprises all 3 special forces troops. The Portuguese Paratroopers were usually nicknamed “Paras” or “Green Berets” (Boinas Verdes).
