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Is a series of wars in the Democratic Republic of the Congo that started shortly after its independence from Belgium in 1960. The conflicts, that continue to this day, mainly consist of revolts against the central government caused by local ethnic secessionist movements.
Chronology
Interactive Chronologies with maps are available in the section Changes Navigation
Were a series of revolts against the central government of the newly established Republic of the Congo (modern-day Democratic Republic of the Congo). The war ended with Mobutu Sese Soko reuniting the country and establishing an authoritarian regime.
1.1.Revolt of the military (Congo Crisis)
Soldiers of the garrisons of Léopoldville and Thysville of the Force Publique, the army of the newly independent Democratic Republic of the Congo (then Republic of the Congo) mutinied against their white officers. The revolt quickly spread throughout the Lower Congo and engulfed the country in disorder, beginning the Congo Crisis.
July 1960: 5 - 8 July 1960: soldiers of the garrisons of Léopoldville and Thysville of the Force Publique, the army of the newly independent Democratic Republic of the Congo (then Republic of the Congo) mutinied against their white officers. The revolt quickly spread throughout the Lower Congo and engulfed the country in disorder, beginning the Congo Crisis.
1.2.Secessionistic States (Congo Crisis)
At the beginning of the Congo crisis several territories declared their independence from the central government.
July 1960: Moïse Tshombe, the leader of CONAKAT, declared the Congo's southern province of Katanga independent as the State of Katanga.
January 1963: UN troops seized an abandoned gendarmerie base and secured Shinkolobwe.
December 1960: Members of the MNC-L fled to Stanleyville where, led by Antoine Gizenga, they formed a rebel government in November 1960 in opposition to the central government in Léopoldville.
February 1961: The rival government, led by Moise Tshombe and supported by Belgium, reached its greatest territorial extent on 24 February 1961 when some of its forces briefly earned the allegiance of the Luluabourg garrison in the ongoing Congo Crisis.
December 1962: On 24 December 1962, UN troops and the Katangese Gendarmerie clashed near Élisabethville and fighting broke out. After attempts to reach a ceasefire failed, UN troops launched Operation Grandslam and occupied Élisabethville.
January 1963: On 14 January, Indian troops found the last intact bridge into Kolwezi. After a brief fight with gendarmes and mercenaries they secured it and crossed over, stopping at the city outskirts to await further instruction.
January 1963: Tshombe surrendered his final stronghold of Kolwezi, effectively ending the Katangese secession.
October 1962: Central government troops again arrived in Bakwanga to support the mutineers and help suppress the last Kalonjist loyalists, marking the end of South Kasai's secession.
January 1963: In 1963, Indian UN troops, under the command of Commandant Pat Quinlan, occupied Jadotville in the Republic of the Congo (Léopoldville) during the Congo Crisis. They were part of a peacekeeping mission but found themselves surrounded and outnumbered by Congolese troops and mercenaries.
August 1960: Less than a month after the Katangese secession, on 8 August, a section of the region of Kasai situated slightly to the north of Katanga also declared its autonomy from the central government as the Mining State of South Kasai (Sud-Kasaï) based around the city of Bakwanga.
January 1962: The rival government was not fully reintegrated into the Republic of the Congo until Gizenga was arrested in January 1962.
December 1960: Stanleyville troops occupied Bukavu.
January 1961: Stanleyville forces had occupied northern Katanga as far in as Manono.
1.3.Kwilu rebellion
A faction of rebel Maoists staged a revolt against the government in the Kwilu district (modern-day Democratic Republic of the Congo).
September 1963: August 1963 – early 1965: a faction of rebel Maoists staged a revolt against the government in the Kwilu district of the country.
1.4.Simba rebellion
Was a revolt part of the Congo Crisis that started in South Kivu (modern-day Democratic Republic of the Congo). The rebel leaders opposed the central government and most of them where Marxists.
June 1964: When another rebellion broke out in the town, Soumialot's forces exploited the resulting chaos and captured Albertville.
May 1964: Fizi conquered by Simba Rebels.
May 1964: A small ANC detachment led by Louis Bobozo retook the town of Albertville.
December 1965: The final Simba stronghold near Bukavu held out for a month. It was captured only after the Simba force had killed several thousand civilians. In November 1965, the Communist Cubans left the Congo. At this point, the rebellion was effectively defeated.
June 1964: Kabila and Massengo's troops conquered the entire western shore of Lake Tanganyika, including Moba by late June.
October 1964: In 1964, the combined force of Katangan gendarmes led by Moise Tshombe and mercenaries led by Mike Hoare marched on Kasai Province and encountered Simba rebels near Luluabourg. The Simba rebels were followers of the Congolese nationalist leader, Gaston Soumialot.
December 1964: Albertville was re-captured by the ANC infantry and motorized Gendarmes.
July 1964: The Simbas continued to advance. By late July 1964, the insurgents controlled about half of the Congo.
November 1964: In 1964, mercenaries led by Major Mike Hoare captured the key town of Boende in the Democratic Republic of the Congo during the Simba Rebellion. Hoare was a former British Army officer who led a group of European mercenaries in support of the Congolese government against the Simba rebels.
September 1965: By summer 1965, the Simbas had lost a majority of their territory and were being abandoned by the Soviets and Cubans.
May 1964: Pro-Simba forces successfuly revolted in the important harbor town of Albertville in late May.
November 1964: The Dragon Noir mission was led by Belgian paratrooper commander Charles Laurent. Isiro, located in the northeastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, was captured as part of the ongoing conflict in the region following the country's independence from Belgium.
November 1964: An airborne assault on Stanleyville in 1964 was organized by Belgian Colonel Charles Laurent and code-named Dragon Rouge.
July 1964: Christophe Gbenye and Nicholas Olenga rose in revolt in northeastern Congo, quickly expanding their army and territories. By June 1964, they held North Kivu, and southern Oriental Province.
November 1964: The Simba rebels encountered heavy losses because of ANC machine-gun fire. It was a decisive defeat and the Simba rebels were forced to abandon their attacks in Kasai.
June 1964: A third rebel force, independent of Soumialot, Gbenye, and Olenga, rebelled in northern Katanga in early June.
September 1964: Simba conquest of Stanleyville.
July 1964: Simba conquest of Kindu.
May 1964: Soumialot's army overran the last local government holdouts at Uvira.
Were two invasions of the Congolese province of Shaba (now Katanga) by rebels from the Congolese National Liberation Front (FNLC) located in Angola. The aim of the invasion was the secession of the province from Congo.
2.1.Shaba I
Was a conflict in Zaire's Shaba (Katanga) Province. The conflict began when the Front for the National Liberation of the Congo (FNLC) crossed the border into Shaba from Angola.
2.2.Shaba II
Was a brief conflict fought in the Zairean province of Shaba. The conflict broke out on 11 May 1978 after 6,500 rebels from the Congolese National Liberation Front (FNLC), a Katangese separatist militia, crossed the border from Angola into Zaire in an attempt to achieve the province's secession from the Zairian regime.
Was a civil war in Zaire (modern-day Democratic Republic of the Congo) that culminated in a foreign invasion that replaced Zairean president Mobutu Sese Seko with the rebel leader Laurent-Désiré Kabila.
May 1997: Zaire collapsed in the 1990s, amid the destabilization of the eastern parts of the country in the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide and growing ethnic violence. In 1996, Laurent-Désiré Kabila, the head of the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo (AFDL) militia, led a popular rebellion against Mobutu. With rebel forces successfully making gains beyond the east, Mobutu fled the country, leaving Kabila's forces in charge as the country restored its name to the Democratic Republic of the Congo the following year.
3.1.AFDL Conquest of Congo
Was the military invasion by the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo-Zaire (AFDL), an alliance of African states and military groups that ended the regime of Mobutu Sese Soko in Zaire (modern-day Democratic Republic of the Congo).
October 1996: AFDL conquest of Uvira.
February 1997: AFDL conquest of Kalemie.
March 1997: AFDL conquest of Kisangani.
October 1996: AFDL conquest of Bukavu.
November 1996: AFDL conquest of Butembo.
January 1997: AFDL conquest of Watsa.
March 1997: AFDL conquest of Kindu.
April 1997: AFDL conquest of Mbuji-Mayi.
April 1997: AFDL conquest of Lubumbashi.
April 1997: AFDL conquest of Bumba.
May 1997: AFDL conquest of Mbandaka.
May 1997: AFDL conquest of Kinshasa.
May 1997: Line of front based on available maps.
February 1997: AFDL conquest of Isiro.
November 1996: AFDL conquest of Goma.
April 1997: AFDL conquest of Kamina.
December 1996: AFDL conquest of Bunia.
March 1997: AFDL conquest of Kananga.
May 1997: AFDL conquest of Kenge.
Was a civil war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo where several rebel groups, some of them with the support of foregin countries, tried to overthrow the central government of Kinshasa led by Laurent-Désiré Kabila, who had become president after the the end of First Congo War in 1997. The conflict ended with the Pretoria Accord (2002) between the major factions of the war.
4.1.Eastern Theatre (Second Congo War)
Was the theatre of war in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo during the Second Congo War.
January 2002: The RCD-Kisingani (RCD-K), which was under Ugandan influence, split into the RCD-Mouvement de Libération (RCD-ML) and RCD-National (RCD-N). The RCD-ML allied itself with the central government in Kinshasa and established its dominion in the north of North Kivu province and parts of the Ituri district, the RCD-N remained an ally of Uganda.
August 1998: On August 2, 1998, just under a week after Kabila's withdrawal request from Rwanda, the Congolese Army's 10th Brigade (consisting mainly of Banyamulenge), stationed in Goma, declared its departure from President Kabila. Its commander announced on the radio that the nepotism and corruption under Kabila was condemned and that the army had come to the decision to oust the president;[37] Goma subsequently fell to the rebels without any major fighting.
August 1998: The strategically important cities of Bukavu and Goma fell under the control of the RCD rebels, as did Uvira, where fighting began on August 4th.
August 1998: In the second week of fighting, Beni and Butembu fell on the Ugandan border.
August 1998: The Rally for Congolese Democracy (RCD) took control of Bunia with the support of Ugandan troops.
August 1998: In 1998, Kalemies, a renowned military leader and ruler, successfully conquered the territory of RCD on August 26th. This victory solidified Kalemies' reputation as a powerful and strategic leader in the region.
November 1998: In 1998, during the Second Congo War, the rebel group RCD captured the cities of Moba and Kongolo in Katanga. This was part of their campaign to overthrow the government of President Laurent Kabila.
January 1999: Nyunzu and Pweto are conquered by the RCD.
April 1999: Due to these differences, the RCD increasingly split into a camp close to Rwanda and a camp close to Uganda under the leadership of dia Wamba; while the Rwanda-affiliated continued to maintain its operations center in Goma, dia Wamba's constituency moved their headquarters to Kisangani in early 1999.
April 2000: The Rally for Congolese Democracy (RCD) made another advance to the west in Kasai, where heavy fighting broke out again with Zimbabweans and Namibians. The areas controlled by rebels had reached their greatest extent in March 2000.
August 1998: In 1998, rebels in the east, led by the Rally for Congolese Democracy (RCD), captured Kisangani.
August 1998: In 1998, Bukavu was a territory in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The troops stationed there were part of the rebel group RCD (Rassemblement Congolais pour la Démocratie). They announced that they would no longer recognize the local rulers, challenging the authority in the region.
October 1998: Kindu is captured by the Rassemblement Congolais pour la Démocratie rebels on October 12.
4.2.Western Theatre (Second Congo War)
Was the theatre of war in the western Democratic Republic of the Congo during the Second Congo War.
August 1998: Angolan troops were able to recapture Boma, Muanda and Kitona in few days.
August 1998: The Inga Dams in Matadi were captured by the rebel group RCD, led by historical figure Laurent-Désiré Kabila.
August 1998: Congolese government forces took back Matadi and the Inga dams.
August 1998: Ugandan and Rwandan troops led by Kabarebe ("Commander James") hijacked a passenger plane in rebel-held Goma to the east to escort elite soldiers - composed of Rwandan, Ugandan and possibly Congolese forces[48] - to the small town of Kitona in Bas-Bas Province. Congo on the Atlantic coast.
4.3.Northern Theatre (Second Congo War)
Was the theatre of war in the northern Democratic Republic of the Congo during the Second Congo War.
November 1998: On November 7, Jean-Pierre Bemba announced the existence of a new rebel organization in the north of the country, the Mouvement de Liberation du Congo (MLC). On November 17, the MLC rebels together with the Ugandan UPDF soldiers conquered Bumba, which is almost 300 kilometers northeast of Kisangani.
April 1999: The forces of Kabila loose the town of Zongo to the Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC).
June 1999: MLC in control of almost the entire province of Équateur until the end of May 1999.
April 1999: In 1999, the town of Gbadolite was conquered by the rebel group MLC, led by former Congolese president Mobutu Sese Seko's son, Jean-Pierre Bemba. Gbadolite was Mobutu's hometown and a symbol of his lavish lifestyle during his dictatorship.
December 1999: At the beginning of November, the armistice agreement was terminated by the MLC and a new offensive started. By the end of December, the MLC controlled the entire north of the country, up to the border with the Republic of Congo.
December 1998: The rebel group MLC led by Jean-Pierre Bemba conquers Lisala and Gemena in early December.
November 1998: At the end of 1998, the MLC controlled large parts of the province of Orientale.
4.4.Pretoria Accord
Was a treaty that ended the Second Congo War. It involved the major factions of the conflict, but not all, and in some regions of Congo conflicts continue to this day.
June 2003: The Pretoria Accord (" Accord Global et Inclusif") ended the Second Congo War. Rwandan forces withdrew from Congo. On April 7th Kabila was sworn in as interim president, in the following months more and more UN troops arrived in the country. The new government took office on June 30.
Was a conflict between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, a rebel Hutu group in eastern Congo.
November 2007: Nkunda's CNDP troops capture the town of Nyanzale.
January 2005: The National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP) falls back into the forests of Masisi.
October 2008: CNDP Advancement after the Battle of Goma (2008).
January 2005: After negotiations with the United Nations, Nkunda's National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP) forces leave Bukavu.
January 2009: Following a reversal of alliance, the Rwandan and Congolese governments launched a combined military operation on January 22, 2009 leading to the arrest of CNDP leader Laurent Nkunda in Rwanda on the evening of January 22.
May 2004: The National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP) led by Nkunda declared hostilities with the DRC army in South Kivu and in May 2004 occupied the town of Bukavu.
December 2007: Nkunda (CNDP) retakes Mushake on December 10, as well as the locality of Karuba.
December 2007: A government offensive in early December retakes the locality of Mushake.
Fighting in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), that occurred between the March 23 Movement and government forces. The rebellion was part of continued fighting in the region after the formal end of the Second Congo War in 2003.
July 2012: On 6 July 2012, M23 attacked and took the town of Bunagana less than a kilometer from the border with Uganda.
July 2012: On 8 July, the rebels captured Rutshuru.
July 2012: By 10 July, they were 40 kilometers from the city of Goma. The towns of Rubare and Ntamugenga had also reportedly fallen to the rebels.
November 2012: On 18 November, it was reported that Congolese troops and the administration were leaving Goma in a hurry as M23 was at the gates of the city.
November 2012: M23 forces entered the city of Goma on 20 November. M23 forces moved in two columns past Sake, eventually capturing most of Goma as well as a nearby border post with Rwanda.
November 2012: M23 forces began advancing towards the town of Bukavu, capital of South Kivu state on 21 November.
October 2013: In late October, the Congolese army captured two towns from M23 rebels: Kiwanja and Buhumba
December 2012: On 1 December, M23 rebels pulled out of Goma. The city was again under Congolese army control.
October 2013: In October 2013, Congo told the UN that the movement was virtually finished after being pushed back from its key position at Mount Hehu and Rumanagabo, north of Goma, to an enclave near Rwanda. Congo also re-captured Kiwanja and Rutshuru and discovered mass graves.
November 2013: The government claimed to have defeated the rebels, as the group said it is ending its rebellion and would disarm and demobilise its forces in order to pursue a political solution.
October 2013: On 30 October, the first town seized by the rebels in 2012 was stormed by UN-backed Congolese troops as the rebels abandoned Bunagana.
April 2012: 4 April 2012 – 7 November 2013: fighting in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), that occurred between the March 23 Movement and government forces. The rebellion was part of continued fighting in the region after the formal end of the Second Congo War in 2003.
27 March 2022 - present: In late March 2022, the rebel March 23 Movement (M23) launched an offensive in North Kivu (in the Democratic Republic of the Congo).
October 2023: Meanwhile, fighting continued to close in on the city of Goma, with clashes taking place 20 kilometers from the city.
March 2022: M23 captured several villages, including Mugingo, Gasiza, Chengerero, Rugamba, Kibote, Baseke and Kabindi.
June 2022: On 29 June, the DRC Armed Forces (FARDC) captured Kabindi and Chengerero.
June 2022: The M23 focused on Bikenge, Ruvumu, Shangi, and Bukima, overrunning the villages.
February 2024: M23 seized the towns of Kihindo, Kituva, Bukobati, and Nyamubingwa, and was in control of the Goma-Minova road by 5 February.
January 2023: M23 captured several villages and the town of Nyamilima near the Ugandan border.
February 2024: M23 seized the town of Shasha.
January 2025: M23 Rebels seize the town of Masisi.
June 2022: By 18-19 June, the frontline had stabilized along the Rutshuru-Bunagana axis.
April 2022: The M23 fighters temporarily retreated back to their mountain bases.
October 2022: The M23 offensive continued along the RN2 highway leading to M23 capturing the towns of Rubare, Kalengera, and Kako.
May 2022: M23 overran Kibumba on 18 May.
March 2022: In the night of 27 March 2022, M23 rebels launched a new offensive in North Kivu, first attacking the villages of Tshanzu and Runyoni in the Rutshuru Territory from their strongholds at the surrounding hills.
June 2022: Pro-government forces, consisting of the military and police, counter-attacked, and retook the villages of Nkokwe, Ruvumu, Rugarama, Rutakara, Ntamugenga and Rutsiro.
November 2022: By 15 November 2022, M23 had pushed to the towns of Rugari and Tongo.
February 2023: M23 seized the village of Mushaki on February 24, forcing civilians to flee,
April 2023: On 10 April, M23 rebels completely retreated from the Bwito chiefdom in Rutshuru.
October 2022: On 29 October M23 rebels took control of Rutshuru and Kiwanja.
October 2023: On 26 October, the M23 rebels launched an offensive on Bambo, seizing the town.
October 2022: on 23 October M23 group captured the town of Ntamugenga killing five soldiers
June 2022: M23 captured Bunagana.
June 2022: M23 captured the town of Tshengerero and the villages of Bugusa, Kabindi and Rangira.
February 2023: M23 took the town of Rubaya and its coltan mines.
February 2023: The next day, the town of Mweso also fell to the rebels.
January 2023: On 27 January, M23 captured the city of Kitshanga.
Selected Sources
Der Spiegel 19/1997 p. 146
Der Spiegel 7/1997 p. 128
Der Spiegel 45/1996 p. 167
Johnson, D. (2009): Kongo, Kriege, Korruption und die Kunst des Überlebens, Frankfurt am Main (Germany)
Stearns, J. (2012): Dancing in the Glory of Monsters, London (UK)
https://www.barrons.com/news/rwanda-backed-m23-rebels-seize-key-town-in-east-dr-congo-sources-4ea8285c
Congo Conflicts
