War and Military Atlas

How Battles Were Fought
Sign In
Text size
100%
Theme

Switch Atlas

War

First Congo War

Contemporary

The First Congo War was fought from 1996 to 1997, when a rebellion led by Laurent-Desire Kabila and backed by Rwanda and Uganda swept across Zaire against the decades-long rule of dictator Mobutu Sese Seko. The revolt was driven partly by the presence of Hutu militia and refugee camps in eastern Zaire tied to the aftermath of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, which Rwanda's new government wanted eliminated. Kabila's forces advanced with little effective resistance across the vast country and reached the capital Kinshasa in May 1997, at which point Mobutu fled into exile and Kabila took power, renaming the country the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Facts
Start Year
1996 1
End Year
1997 1
Combatants
Zaire; AFDL rebels backed by Rwanda and Uganda 1
Outcome
AFDL victory; overthrow of the Mobutu regime 1
Classification
Death Toll Min
from 250,000 1
Conflict Type
Interstate War 1
Connections

Uses

Carl Gustaf m/45, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: Carl Gustaf m/45
IWI Galil, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: IWI Galil
M80 Zolja, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: M80 Zolja
MG 42, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: MG 42
Panhard AML, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: Panhard AML
Uzi, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: Uzi
Zastava M70 Assault Rifle, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: Zastava M70 (assault rifle)
Sources
1. First Congo War - Wikipedia
  • Infobox, date
    24 October 1996 ? 16 May 1997
  • Infobox, combatant1/combatant2
    Zaire
  • Infobox, result
    AFDL victory
  • Infobox, casualties field
    Infobox casualties: Total: 250,000 dead
  • Conflict-type attribute (first-congo-war)
    The First Congo War, also known as Africa's First World War, was a civil and international military conflict that lasted from 24 October 1996 to 16 May 1997, primarily taking place in Zaire.
View the Source
Wikipedia: MG 42
WikipediaUses: MG 42, infobox wars field: 'First Congo War'View the Source
Wikipedia: Uzi
WikipediaUses: Uzi, infobox wars field: 'First Congo War'View the Source
Wikipedia: Zastava M70 (assault rifle)
Uses: Zastava M70 Assault Rifle, infobox wars field: 'First Congo War'View the Source
Wikipedia: IWI Galil
Uses: IWI Galil, infobox wars field: 'First Congo War'View the Source
Wikipedia: Carl Gustaf m/45
Uses: Carl Gustaf m/45, infobox wars field: 'First Congo War'View the Source
Wikipedia: Panhard AML
Uses: Panhard AML, infobox wars field: 'First Congo War'View the Source
Wikipedia: M80 Zolja
Uses: M80 Zolja, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Uses: M80 Zolja, Wikipedia article text
Bosnian Serb mercenaries in Zaire used some M80s against Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo in 1997 during the first Congo War.
View the Source
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.