 The Belgian 1st Colonial Brigade operated in the Galla @-@ Sidamo area in the South @-@ West sector . In May 1941 , around 8 @,@ 000 men of the Force Publique , under Major @-@ General Auguste @-@ Édouard Gilliaert , successfully cut off the retreat of General Pietro Gazzera 's Italians at Saio , in the Ethiopian Highlands after marching over 1 @,@ 000 kilometres ( 620 mi ) from their bases in western Congo . The troops suffered from malaria and other tropical diseases , but successfully defeated the Italians in a number of engagements . Gilliaert subsequently accepted the surrender of Gazzera and 7 @,@ 000 Italian troops in a number of small engagements . Over the course of the campaign in Abyssinia , the Force Publique received the surrender of nine Italian generals , 370 high @-@ ranking officers and 15 @,@ 000 Italian colonial troops before the end of 1941 . The Congolese forces in Abyssinia suffered about 500 fatalities . 
