The First Congo War was a conflict in Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in which a rebel coalition called the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo-Zaire, led by Laurent-Desire Kabila, overthrew the long-time ruler Mobutu Sese Seko. It was backed by Rwanda and Uganda, among others, and a major reason was the presence of Hutu militias and refugees in eastern Zaire after the Rwandan genocide of 1994. Rebels and their allies advanced across the country with little resistance from Mobutu's weak army, and Kinshasa fell in May 1997. Kabila declared himself president and renamed the country the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Disputes with his former allies led to the Second Congo War in 1998.
Before and after
- 19 September 1996Founding of Arctic Council
- from 27 September 1996 to 17 December 2001Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
- October 1996Sinosauropteryx, the first feathered dinosaur, is announced
- 14 October 1996Release of KDE
- from 24 October 1996 to 16 May 1997First Congo War
- 1 November 1996Launch of Al Jazeera
- 5 November 19961996 United States presidential election
- 7 November 1996Launch of Mars Global Surveyor
- 4 December 1996Launch of Mars Pathfinder
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The era
This moment belongs to the Contemporary world (1945 CE to today), the world since 1945. You can also browse everything in the 20th century.