First Congo War
October 24, 1996 – May 16, 1997 · Kinshasa
Result AFDL victory
Rebels led by Laurent-Désiré Kabila, backed by Rwanda and Uganda, swept across Zaire and overthrew Mobutu Sese Seko. The country was renamed the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
AFDL and allies
Zaire
Other
Strength and losses
AFDL Strength 57,000
Rwanda Strength 3,500–4,000
Angola Strength 3,000
Interahamwe Strength 40,000–100,000
UNITA Strength c. 1,000–2,000
Before and after
- Led to
- Second Congo War August 2, 1998 – July 18, 2003