Second Congo War

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The Second Congo War, also known as Africa's World War or the Great War of Africa, was a major conflict that began on 2 August 1998 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), just over a year after the First Congo War. The war initially erupted when Congolese president Laurent-Désiré Kabila turned against his former allies from Rwanda and Uganda, who had helped him seize power. The conflict expanded as Kabila rallied a coalition of other countries to his defense. The war drew in nine African nations and approximately 25 armed groups, making it one of the largest wars in African history. Amidst rumors of a possible Rwandan-backed coup against Kabila, he ordered all Rwandan troops to leave the country on 27 July 1998. Banyamulenge Congolese Tutsi soldiers, feeling threatened by the move, declared a rebellion against Kabila on 2 August, which received Ugandan and Rwandan backing. During August, Rwandan troops and Congolese Banyamulenge defectors made an attempt to seize Kinshasa and overthrow...

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