Why did Belgium send paratroopers to the Congo after independence?

Following the independence of the Democratic Republic of the Congo on June 30, 1960, Belgium sent paratroopers into the country ostensibly to protect the lives of Belgian citizens. This intervention was triggered by a mutiny of the army, the Force Publique, which occurred near Léoopoldville (now Kinshasa) on July 5, 1960.12

While the stated purpose of the deployment was the safety of Belgian nationals, the troops landed primarily in the mineral-rich province of Katanga. This action lent credibility to claims by Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba that Belgium was attempting to reimpose its colonial authority and support the secessionist regime led by Moise Tshombe. The presence of these forces and their support for the Katanga secession were central factors in the ensuing Congo crisis, which eventually became entangled in the geopolitical tensions of the Cold War.312