Editing Selous Scouts (section)

{{Short description|Rhodesian Army special forces unit}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name                     = Selous Scouts
| image                         = Small_Selous_Scouts_Logo.svg
| caption                       = The insignia of the Selous Scouts
| dates                         = 1973–1980
| country                       = {{flag|Republic of Rhodesia|size=20px}}
| type                          = [[Special forces]]
| specialization                =
| size                          =
| command_structure             = [[Rhodesian Army]]
| battles_label                 = Conflict
| battles                       = [[Rhodesian Bush War]]
| commander5                    = [[Ronald Francis Reid-Daly]]
}}

The '''Selous Scouts''' {{IPAc-en|s|ə|ˈ|l|uː}} was a [[special forces]] unit of the [[Rhodesian Army]] that operated during the [[Rhodesian Bush War]] from 1973 until the reconstitution of the country as [[Zimbabwe]] in 1980. It was mainly responsible for infiltrating the black majority population of [[Rhodesia]] and collecting intelligence on insurgents so that they could be attacked by regular elements of the security forces. The unit did this by forming small teams that posed as insurgents and usually included captured insurgents. Over time, the Selous Scouts increasingly attacked insurgents themselves and operated in the countries that neighboured Rhodesia.

The unit developed a reputation for brutality and was responsible for attacking and killing civilians. The Selous Scouts were also involved in the [[Rhodesia and weapons of mass destruction|Rhodesian chemical and biological weapons program]] and used poisons and biological agents in some of its operations. The methods used by the unit led to the deaths of large numbers of insurgents, but proved counter-productive as they further alienated the black majority population from the white minority Rhodesian government and increased international opposition to the regime.

Following the disbandment of the Selous Scouts after Rhodesia's transition to Zimbabwe, many of its members were recruited into the [[Apartheid]]-era South African security forces. They contributed to the adoption of the Selous Scouts' methods by the [[South African Defence Force]] and [[South African Police]], and some took part in operations to undermine the government of Zimbabwe.