20th century – 21st century
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The conflict described as Africa’s World War began when Rwanda and Uganda intervened militarily in the Democratic Republic of the Congo after the 1994 genocide. Their objectives included suppressing Hutu militias, removing Laurent Kabila, and protecting or supporting the Banyamulenge. The war drew in Burundi, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Angola, Chad, and numerous armed groups, producing immense casualties through violence, disease, and starvation.
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The Story
After the genocide, an estimated 1.1 million Rwandan refugees settled in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Interahamwe militia members and former Rwandan Armed Forces personnel used refugee camps as bases for attacks against Rwanda. The Rwandan government also objected to the persecution of Banyamulenge, Congolese Tutsis whom the Congolese government refused to recognize as citizens.
Rwanda and Uganda helped Congolese opposition forces led by Laurent Kabila overthrow President Mobutu in 1997. Kabila then failed to disarm or expel Hutu armed groups, and cross-border raids continued. In August 1998, Rwanda and Uganda again went to war against the Congo, this time seeking to remove Kabila and accusing his government of supporting Hutu extremists.
Laurent Kabila received military assistance from Zimbabwe, Namibia, Angola, and Chad. Burundi joined on the side of Rwanda and Uganda because it also faced attacks by Hutu rebels operating from the Congo. The conflict thus expanded beyond a bilateral war and became a regional confrontation involving eight African nations and twenty-five armed groups.
The war’s human cost was enormous. The excerpt attributes at least four million deaths to Rwanda’s two wars with the Congo and related conflicts, including violence, disease, and starvation. Competition over eastern Congo’s gold, diamonds, and coltan further linked military intervention to the exploitation of natural resources.
20th century – 21st century
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The conflict described as Africa’s World War began when Rwanda and Uganda intervened militarily in the Democratic Republic of the Congo after the 1994 genocide. Their objectives included suppressing Hutu militias, removing Laurent Kabila, and protecting or supporting the Banyamulenge. The war drew in Burundi, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Angola, Chad, and numerous armed groups, producing immense casualties through violence, disease, and starvation.
Continue exploring
The Story
After the genocide, an estimated 1.1 million Rwandan refugees settled in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Interahamwe militia members and former Rwandan Armed Forces personnel used refugee camps as bases for attacks against Rwanda. The Rwandan government also objected to the persecution of Banyamulenge, Congolese Tutsis whom the Congolese government refused to recognize as citizens.
Rwanda and Uganda helped Congolese opposition forces led by Laurent Kabila overthrow President Mobutu in 1997. Kabila then failed to disarm or expel Hutu armed groups, and cross-border raids continued. In August 1998, Rwanda and Uganda again went to war against the Congo, this time seeking to remove Kabila and accusing his government of supporting Hutu extremists.
Laurent Kabila received military assistance from Zimbabwe, Namibia, Angola, and Chad. Burundi joined on the side of Rwanda and Uganda because it also faced attacks by Hutu rebels operating from the Congo. The conflict thus expanded beyond a bilateral war and became a regional confrontation involving eight African nations and twenty-five armed groups.
The war’s human cost was enormous. The excerpt attributes at least four million deaths to Rwanda’s two wars with the Congo and related conflicts, including violence, disease, and starvation. Competition over eastern Congo’s gold, diamonds, and coltan further linked military intervention to the exploitation of natural resources.
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