“The Second Congo War: When 9 Countries, 25 Armed Groups Fought Inside the DRC Over Its Minerals”

“The Second Congo War: When 9 Countries, 25 Armed Groups Fought Inside the DRC Over Its Minerals”

The Second Congo War, fought between 1998 and 2003, became one of the deadliest conflicts since World War II. Often called Africa’s World War, it involved nine African countries and more than 25 armed groups, leaving millions dead and displaced.

The conflict began after Laurent-Désiré Kabila overthrew Mobutu Sese Seko in 1997 with military support from Rwanda and Uganda. After becoming president, Kabila sought to distance himself from his former allies and ordered their troops to leave the DRC in 1998.

Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi responded by backing Congolese rebels seeking to remove Kabila. Angola, Chad, Sudan, Zimbabwe and Namibia then intervened on Kabila’s side, turning the crisis into a wider regional war.

But politics was not the only factor. The DRC had vast deposits of coltan, gold, diamonds and other valuable resources. Foreign armies and armed groups fought to control mining areas, while mineral revenues helped finance the conflict.

The human cost was devastating. Millions of civilians died from disease, hunger and displacement, while massacres, sexual violence and the recruitment of children were reported across the country.

In 2001, Kabila was assassinated and succeeded by his son, Joseph Kabila. Peace agreements followed, leading to the withdrawal of foreign forces and the formation of a transitional government in 2003.

However, fighting did not completely end. Eastern DRC has continued to face armed conflict, displacement and struggles over territory and mineral wealth.