This is a list of wars involving the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Congo Free State (1885–1908) ConflictCombatantsResultSovereign Stairs Expedition(1891–1892) Yeke Kingdom Victory Msiri killed, end of the Yeke Kingdom Congo–Arab War(1892–1894) Supported by: Sultanate of Utetera Arab-Swahili sultanates in Eastern CongoSupported by: Congo Free State victory Batetela Rebellion(1895–1908) Tetela rebels Victory Mahdist War(1881–1899) Mahdist State Allied victory Sudanese invasions of neighbours repelled Establishment of Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, a polity jointly ruled by Britain and Egypt Kassala temporarily occupied by Italy Congo secures the Lado Enclave until 1910
Belgian Congo (1908–1960)
Republic of the Congo (Léopoldville) (1960–1971) ConflictCombatantsResultPresident Congo Crisis(1960–1965)
Supported by: 1960–1963:
Supported by:
1960–1962:
Supported by: West-Congolese victory (Phase 1) Katanga and South Kasai reincorporated into the Congo, Stanleyville government exiled 1963–1965:
Supported by: 1963–1965:
Supported by: Government victory (Phase 2) Defeat of the Simba Rebellion The Congo established as an independent unitary state under the authoritarian presidency of Mobutu Sese Seko. First Stanleyville Mutiny(1966) Mutineers Victory Mutiny crushed Second Stanleyville Mutiny(1967) Mutineers Victory Mutiny crushed
Zaire (1971–1997) ConflictCombatantsResultPresident Angolan Civil War(1975) Democratic People's Republic of Angola UNITA FNLA (from 1975) (1975)
FLEC People's Republic of Angola MPLA (from 1975) SWAPO (from 1975) ANC (from 1975)
FLNC (from 1975) MPLA victory Shaba I(1977)
Supported by: Congolese National Liberation Front (FNLC) Supported by: Zairian victory FNLC expelled from Shaba Shaba II(1978) FNLC Zairian victory Mutual end of support for other nations' rebel groups Chadian–Libyan Conflict(1978–1987) Anti-Libyan Chadian factions FAT (1978–1979) FAN (1978–1983) FANT (1983–1987) GUNT (1986–1987) Inter-African Force
NFSL Libya Islamic LegionGeoffrey Leslie Simons, Libya and the West: from independence to Lockerbie, Centre for Libyan Studies (Oxford, England). Pg. 57 Pro-Libyan Chadian factions FROLINAT GUNT (1979–1986) Codos (1983–1986) FAP (1978–1986) Pro-Libyan Palestinian and Lebanese groups (1987) Abu Nidal Organization Chadian and French victory Chad regains control of the Aouzou Strip. Rwandan Civil War(1990–1994) Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) victory First Congo War(1996–1997) FAZ White Legion Ex-FAR/ALiR Interahamwe CNDD-FDD UNITA ADF FLNCLRAUNRF II Supported by: (denied)
Mai-Mai AFDL SPLASupported by: (covertly)
Mai-Mai AFDL victory Overthrow of the Mobutu regime Zaire renamed back to the Democratic Republic of the Congo Installation of Laurent-Désiré Kabila as president Beginning of Second Congo War
Democratic Republic of the Congo (from 1997) ConflictCombatantsResultPresident Congo-Brazzaville Civil War(1997–1999) Armed Forces of the Republic of the Congo (to October 1997)Cocoye MilitiaNinja MilitiaNsiloulouSupported by: Jonas SavimbiFLECSupported by: Armed Forces of the Republic of the Congo (from October 1997)Cobra Militia Rwandan Hutu Militia Nguesso loyalist victory Denis Sassou Nguesso returns to power Ituri conflict(1972-2003) Hema ethnic group: UPC
RCD/K-ML FAPC
(FARDC) (MONUC) (Artemis) Lendu ethnic group:
FNI FRPI CODECO FPJC
Mai-Mai Simba
ADF IS-CAPMai-Mai Kyandenga Ongoing Second Congo War(1998–2003) Military stalemate Assassination of Laurent-Désiré Kabila Sun City Agreement Creation of a unified, multi-party government in DR Congo, with Joseph Kabila as president Pretoria Accord; Rwandan withdrawal from DR Congo in exchange for commitment towards the disarmament of Hutu militias. The Transitional Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is established, deployment of MONUC. End of the Angolan Civil War. Continuation of the Ituri conflict. Start of the Kivu conflict. Kivu Conflict(2004– present) Pro-government:
Wazalendo (March 2024–) NDC-R
MONUSCO
(against FNL and FNL–Nzabampema) Supported by:
Horațiu Potra's Mercenary Legion (until 31 Jan 2025)Rwandan-aligned militias: CNDP M23 Banyamulenge Twigwaneho Gumino Ugandan-aligned militias: FPRI FPLC FPDC Foreign state actors:
Anti-Ugandan forces: IS-CAP ADF-Baluku ADF-Mukulu Mai-Mai Kyandenga UPLC Anti-Rwandan militias: FDLR RUD-Urunana Other Hutu-aligned forces Nyatura Anti-Burundi militias: RED-Tabara FNL
Mai-Mai militias: NDC-R (until March 2024) FPP-AP AFRC RNL Mazembe Kifuafua Simba MAC
Buhirwa Kidjangala Fuliru Mai-Mai Makanaki Biloze Bishambuke CNPSC Alaise CODECO (in Ituri) Chini ya Kilima–FPIC (in Ituri) Zaïre-FPAC (in Ituri) Ongoing FARDC victory against the CNDP in 2009 and the M23 movement in 2012 CNDP becomes a political party in the DRC M23 movement signs peace agreement with the DRC government; renews fighting in 2022 Conflict breaks out between Rwanda and the Congo in 2022 FDLR, Mai-Mai militias and other armed groups still active in Eastern DRC UN and FARDC begin operation to defeat the FDLR and their allies at the start of 2015 LRA Insurgency(1987–present) (until 1997) (from 1997) (from 2008) MONUC (since April 2024) Wagner Group Supported by:(2011–2017) (until 1990s) Lord's Resistance ArmySupported by: Sudan (1994–2002) Allied Democratic Forces Ongoing (Low-level) Founder and leader of the LRA Joseph Kony goes into hiding Senior LRA commander Dominic Ongwen surrenders to American forces in the Central African Republic and is tried at the Hague Majority of LRA installations and encampments located in South Sudan and Uganda abandoned and dismantled Small scale LRA activity continues in eastern DR Congo, and the Central African Republic Dongo Rebellion(2009) Supported by: MONUC (alleged) Lobala rebelsPossibly:Resistance Patriots of Dongo Victory Rwandan-Congolese forces recaptured Dongo Katanga Insurgency(1963–present) Congo-Léopoldville (until 1971) (1971–1997) (from 1997) ONUC (until 1964) MONUSCO (since 1999)Local self-defence groups Katangese rebels: Katangese Gendarmerie (1960s) FLNC (1967–1991) Mai Mai Kata Katanga (since 2011) Mai Mai Gédéon CORAK CPK Alleged Support:FARDC elementsKatangese businessmen
FDLRMai Mai Yakutumba CNPSC Ongoing M23 Rebellion(2012–2013) MONUSCO Force Intervention Brigade
March 23 MovementAlleged support: Congolese government victory M23 disarms and demobilises ADF Insurgency(1996–present)
Armed Forces (FARDC) MONUSCO Force Intervention Brigade ADF (1996–2015) NALU (early 1996)
ISIL IS-CAP ADF-Baluku ADF-Mukulu NALU RCD/K-ML APC Mai-Mai Kyandenga (2020–present) Supported by: FARDC elementsLRA Al-Shabaab (disputed) Various Jihadi groups (Ugandan and MONUSCO claim) (1990s; currently unknown) Ongoing Central African Republic Civil War(2013–present)
Central African Armed Forces MINUSCA (since 2014) EUTM-RCA (since 2016) (since 2020)Rwanda deploys troops to CAR under bilateral arrangement , The East African, 22 December 2020. Accessed 28 December 2020. (since 2018) Wagner Group Russian Imperial Movement Black RussiansL'incroyable constellation des groupes armés en Centrafrique , 27 July 2023 Azande Ani Kpi Gbe
Formerly: (2013)MISCA (2013–2014) (2013–2021)France suspends military, budgetary support to Central African Republic , 8 June 2021 MPC PRNC CMSPR (since 2024)
Defunct groups: RJ (2013–2018) MNLC (2017–2019) MLCJ (2008–2022) RPRC (2014–2022) UPC (2014–2025) 3R (2015–2025) Ongoing Séléka rebel coalition takes power from François Bozizé.Looting and gunfire in captured CAR capital . Al Jazeera.com (25 March 2013). Retrieved 17 April 2013. Michel Djotodia, the leader of Séléka, becomes president President Michel Djotodia abolishes Séléka Low-level fighting between Ex-Séléka factions and Anti-balaka militias.26 villagers killed by militants in Central African Republic . NewsGhana.com.gh (22 November 2015). Retrieved 22 November 2015. President Michel Djotodia resigns amid heavy international pressure. Interim government is formed Elections conducted in 2016 with Faustin-Archange Touadéra becoming the president De facto split between ex-Séléka factions controlled north and east and Anti-balaka controlled south and west with a Séléka faction declaring the Republic of Logone.Central African rebel leader declares autonomous republic . Reuters (15 December 2015). Retrieved 15 December 2015. Fighting between Ex-Séléka factions FPRC and UPC. Ex-president Bozizé merges all rebel groups and forms the Coalition of Patriots for Change. Elections in 2021 with Touadéra being re-elected as president. As of July 2021 the government controls more territory than at any point since the war began.Central African Republic Control Map & Timeline – July 2021 , PolGeoNow Kamwina Nsapu Rebellion(2016– 2019) Allied militias: Bana Mura Ecurie Mbembe Smaller pro-government groups Kamwina Nsapu rebels Various independent militias Government victory
Notes
References
Sources