An excellent account of EO operations in Angola and Sierra Leone. Told from the perspective of the on-the-ground commander of the EO operations this book sheds light on early EO missions and challenges.
While mercenaries have been rather common in Africa and Asia from [at least] the times of East India Company, EO was a guns-for-hire organization that was providing experienced battle-hardened South African Army ex-soldiers to foreign governments without any direct inclusion of official government from South Africa or any other Western power.

While previously mercenaries played extensive role in wars in Africa they were more or less proxies for the Cold War superpowers. Now you have a situation where very capable combat force can be deployed at the request of the local government anywhere in Africa. Not a good situation in case of any foul play is intended (and on the continent where coups are as common as elections anywhere else in the world foul play is very, very frequent) for a simple reason - no regional armed regular or irregular force is in any way capable to confront and survive the confrontation with EO.

I understand EO was not in for peanuts (that part of "for-hire" in "guns-for-hire") but they more than changed the playfield and proved that highly trained force with operational experience in the region that is ready and capable to work with the locals can be a true game-changer in the highly volatile African theater. No wonder everyone was for quick dissolution of EO - only to put their own PMC's in the field all around the world as soon as possible.

Highly recommended. ( )