Second Congo War

What happened

After the 1994 Rwandan genocide, Hutu militias fled into eastern Congo. Rwanda and Uganda invaded (1996) to pursue the militias, toppling dictator Mobutu in 1997. Laurent-Désiré Kabila took power but clashed with his former allies. In 1998, Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, Angola, and other regional powers invaded Congo, seeking mineral wealth and political leverage. The war lasted until 2003, involving nine nations directly. South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Chad intervened on various sides. The conflict killed an estimated 2.5-5.4 million people, mostly from disease and starvation. Peace agreements (1999, 2002) established a transitional government and UN mission.

Why it mattered

The Second Congo War devastated Central Africa's most resource-rich nation and became one of the deadliest conflicts since World War II. It highlighted the role of regional powers in African conflicts, the impact of the Rwandan genocide's spillover, and the international community's limited capacity to prevent mass death. The war's legacy includes ongoing instability in eastern Congo and mineral supply chain debates.