The DRC’s Civil The DRC’s Civil War War (1998-2003)(1998-2003)

PresidentsPresidents

1965-19971965-1997 MobutuMobutu

1997-20011997-2001 Laurent KabilaLaurent Kabila

2001-present2001-present Joseph KabilaJoseph Kabila

CausesCauses

Rwandan genocide / Political (pro- vs. anti-Rwandan genocide / Political (pro- vs. anti-Kabila)Kabila) 1994: Hutus in E. Congo 1994: Hutus in E. Congo receive Mobutu’s support receive Mobutu’s support 1996: Rwanda invades & wins1996: Rwanda invades & wins 1997: Rwanda + Uganda oust Mobutu & install 1997: Rwanda + Uganda oust Mobutu & install

Laurent KabilaLaurent Kabila Kabila turns against Rwanda and supports HutusKabila turns against Rwanda and supports Hutus 1998: Rwanda starts war vs. Kabila1998: Rwanda starts war vs. Kabila

Economic – control of mineral wealthEconomic – control of mineral wealth

SidesSides

Sides – Africa’s Sides – Africa’s International WarInternational War

Government forcesGovernment forces

AngolaAngola

ZimbabweZimbabwe

NamibiaNamibia

Chad, Libya, SudanChad, Libya, Sudan

Pro-Kabila rebel groups: Pro-Kabila rebel groups: Hutu & Mai-Mai Hutu & Mai-Mai

RebelsRebels

UgandaUganda

RwandaRwanda

Anti-Kabila rebel groups: Anti-Kabila rebel groups: MLC, RCD – Goma, MLC, RCD – Goma, RCD – ML RCD – ML

Sides – Countries’ Sides – Countries’ MotivesMotives

Angola:Angola:o fighting Unita rebels, whose home base was in S. Congofighting Unita rebels, whose home base was in S. Congoo believed Uganda & Rwanda had ties to Unitabelieved Uganda & Rwanda had ties to Unitao previously fought Mobutu previously fought Mobutu supported L. Kabila supported L. Kabila Zimbabwe:Zimbabwe:o unclear … said they wanted to support DRC’s legit. gov‘t., but Mugabe unclear … said they wanted to support DRC’s legit. gov‘t., but Mugabe

may have wanted regional influence and/or mineral wealthmay have wanted regional influence and/or mineral wealth Namibia: family of pres. involved in Congolese miningNamibia: family of pres. involved in Congolese mining Chad: encouraged by France; regain influence in DRCChad: encouraged by France; regain influence in DRC Libya: $$$; break int’l. isolationLibya: $$$; break int’l. isolation Sudan: minor presence; sent a few transport planesSudan: minor presence; sent a few transport planes

Sides – Countries’ Sides – Countries’ MotivesMotives

Uganda:Uganda:o destroy Ugandan rebel bases / protect borders (stated reason, but not a destroy Ugandan rebel bases / protect borders (stated reason, but not a

great one … these rebels were much less of a threat than Rwanda’s great one … these rebels were much less of a threat than Rwanda’s situation)situation)

o mineral wealthmineral wealth Rwanda:Rwanda:o wipe out Hutu genocidaires in E. Congowipe out Hutu genocidaires in E. Congo

Course - EventsCourse - Events

1998: war starts1998: war starts

1999: failed peace attempt1999: failed peace attempt b/c of mineral wealthb/c of mineral wealth

2001: Laurent Kabila assassinated 2001: Laurent Kabila assassinated Joseph K. Joseph K. takes overtakes over

2003: war ends2003: war ends

Course - FeaturesCourse - Features

most fighting in east DRCmost fighting in east DRC child soldierschild soldiers militias / guerilla warfare (vs. organized militias / guerilla warfare (vs. organized

armies & open battles)armies & open battles) less advanced weaponry: machetes, less advanced weaponry: machetes,

stones, even garden toolsstones, even garden tools

ConsequencesConsequences

new constitution new constitution power-sharing gov’t.power-sharing gov’t. human costhuman cost

3m lives lost3m lives lost 3.4m refugees in DRC; 2m in neighboring 3.4m refugees in DRC; 2m in neighboring

countriescountries 40,000 cases of rape40,000 cases of rape

Continuing ConflictContinuing Conflict

2004: 2 coup attempts2004: 2 coup attempts 2008: renewed 2008: renewed

fighting in eastfighting in east Rwandan Hutus vs. Rwandan Hutus vs.

DRC gov’t.DRC gov’t. Laurent Nkunda Laurent Nkunda

(Congolese Tutsi) (Congolese Tutsi) wreaks havoc wreaks havoc (against Hutus & (against Hutus & DRC gov’t)DRC gov’t)

2009: gov’t. invites 2009: gov’t. invites Rwanda in to fight Rwanda in to fight Hutu militias & arrest Hutu militias & arrest NkundaNkunda