 Congolese soldiers of the Force Publique were involved in fighting with Italian forces during the East African Campaign and were instrumental to forcing Italian forces out of Abyssinia , suffering 500 casualties . 13 @,@ 000 Congolese troops served under British command in Nigeria . Detachments of Congolese soldiers also served in the Middle East and Burma . In total , the Force Publique comprised approximately 40 @,@ 000 men and was racially segregated meaning that blacks could not become officers . Throughout the war , therefore , it was commanded by white officers . 
