The Conflicts

The conflict in eastern DRC began in 1996 as a result of the creation of the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo-Zaire (AFDL). The AFDL is a coalition movement created in October 1996 that successfully overthrew the government of Mobutu in 1997 in a military coup backed by neighbouring countries. Laurent-Désiré Kabila, spokesperson for the coalition, came to power. Since 1996, eastern DRC has been torn by civil war.

Following the course of the war in eastern DRC proves extremely difficult given the number of armed groups involved, the changing alliances and the different types of conflict that are raging. In summary, the current conflict may be assessed by looking at the following factors: successive foreign invasions (1996, 1997, and 2000); a civil war between the Congolese national army and the anti-Kabila rebels; a conflict fuelled by interethnic rivalry in Ituri, which was exacerbated by political interests and a conflict linked to the struggle for control over the exploitation of natural resources.

Here are the main elements in the conflict in DRC:

August 1996: Rwanda invades DRC’s Kivu region to launch an attack against armed Hutus
October 1996-May 1997: The anti-Mobutu alliance takes over the country with support from Burundi, Uganda and Rwanda. Laurent-Désiré Kabila takes power
August 1997: Rebellion in eastern DRC in the ranks of the AFDL. Part of the movement rebels against the Laurent-Désiré. Kabila government and forms the Congolese Movement for Democracy.
August 1998: Opening of the North-Eastern front. The Congolese Movement for Democracy and the Movement for the Liberation of Congo are supported by Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi.
November 1999: Signing of the Lusaka Peace Agreement between DRC, Angola, Rwanda, Ouganda and Zimbabwe. They foresee a ceasefire, national dialogue, disarmament, the arrest and transfer of criminals to the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, establishment of a military inquiry commission to conduct investigations regarding violations of the ceasefire and deployment of a peacekeeping mission.
2000: Deployment of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) (pursuant to the Security Council Resolution 1279 of November 1999).
January 16, 2001: L.-D. Kabila assassinated by the Masuru armed group.
July 16-17, 2002: Fighting resumed in Ituri near the town of Bunia. An armed group, the Union of Congolese Patriots, takes over the city of Bunia.
July 2002: Signing of the Pretoria Peace Agreement on the withdrawal of the Rwandan troops from DRC territory and the dismantling of the Ex-FAR and Interahamwe forces (Hutu militia) in DRC. On September 6, 2002, in Luanda, head of States of DRC and Uganda sign an agreement which allows the withdrawal of Ugandan troops from DRC territory, cooperation and normalization of relations between the two countries. At the political level, Sun City peace talks provide DRC with a transitional government consisting of a president and four vice-presidents, each from a different party
Since then, fighting has been frequent and recurring in the region. Arms continue to flow and armed groups continue to commit violent crimes against civilian populations. Integration of ex-rebel group members into the national army has not put an end to the violence.
2003: Dar El Salam Agreement on the establishment of a pacification commission in Ituri.
July 28, 2003: The MONUC’s mandate is extended (MONUC II) by the Security Council.
Joseph Kabila elected president of the DRC.
Today, fighting and crimes committed against civilian populations in eastern DRC continue, provoking massive displacement of populations

French

Petition Without your support, our action will lose momentum. Without our partnership, your action will have little impact. Help us change the direction of the fight against sexual violence in the DRC. Thank you for reading and signing our petition by clicking here.	Skip to Main Content Campuni ya wanawake wa kongomani kwa kupiganisha ubakaji katika jamuhuri ya Congo Congolese Women’s Campaign Against Sexual Violence in the DRC Every day, 40 women are raped in the Eastern Congo. It's a well-known reality that has been documented and reported by media, NGOs, international institutions and States. But nothing changes, sexual violence is still widespread. So what more can be done?
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	The Conflicts The conflict in eastern DRC began in 1996 as a result of the creation of the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo-Zaire (AFDL). The AFDL is a coalition movement created in October 1996 that successfully overthrew the government of Mobutu in 1997 in a military coup backed by neighbouring countries. Laurent-Désiré Kabila, spokesperson for the coalition, came to power. Since 1996, eastern DRC has been torn by civil war. Following the course of the war in eastern DRC proves extremely difficult given the number of armed groups involved, the changing alliances and the different types of conflict that are raging. In summary, the current conflict may be assessed by looking at the following factors: successive foreign invasions (1996, 1997, and 2000); a civil war between the Congolese national army and the anti-Kabila rebels; a conflict fuelled by interethnic rivalry in Ituri, which was exacerbated by political interests and a conflict linked to the struggle for control over the exploitation of natural resources. Here are the main elements in the conflict in DRC: August 1996: Rwanda invades DRC’s Kivu region to launch an attack against armed Hutus October 1996-May 1997: The anti-Mobutu alliance takes over the country with support from Burundi, Uganda and Rwanda. Laurent-Désiré Kabila takes power August 1997: Rebellion in eastern DRC in the ranks of the AFDL. Part of the movement rebels against the Laurent-Désiré. Kabila government and forms the Congolese Movement for Democracy. August 1998: Opening of the North-Eastern front. The Congolese Movement for Democracy and the Movement for the Liberation of Congo are supported by Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi. November 1999: Signing of the Lusaka Peace Agreement between DRC, Angola, Rwanda, Ouganda and Zimbabwe. They foresee a ceasefire, national dialogue, disarmament, the arrest and transfer of criminals to the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, establishment of a military inquiry commission to conduct investigations regarding violations of the ceasefire and deployment of a peacekeeping mission. 2000: Deployment of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) (pursuant to the Security Council Resolution 1279 of November 1999). January 16, 2001: L.-D. Kabila assassinated by the Masuru armed group. July 16-17, 2002: Fighting resumed in Ituri near the town of Bunia. An armed group, the Union of Congolese Patriots, takes over the city of Bunia. July 2002: Signing of the Pretoria Peace Agreement on the withdrawal of the Rwandan troops from DRC territory and the dismantling of the Ex-FAR and Interahamwe forces (Hutu militia) in DRC. On September 6, 2002, in Luanda, head of States of DRC and Uganda sign an agreement which allows the withdrawal of Ugandan troops from DRC territory, cooperation and normalization of relations between the two countries. At the political level, Sun City peace talks provide DRC with a transitional government consisting of a president and four vice-presidents, each from a different party Since then, fighting has been frequent and recurring in the region. Arms continue to flow and armed groups continue to commit violent crimes against civilian populations. Integration of ex-rebel group members into the national army has not put an end to the violence. 2003: Dar El Salam Agreement on the establishment of a pacification commission in Ituri. July 28, 2003: The MONUC’s mandate is extended (MONUC II) by the Security Council. Joseph Kabila elected president of the DRC. Today, fighting and crimes committed against civilian populations in eastern DRC continue, provoking massive displacement of populations French
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The Conflicts