In eastern Zaire, Laurent-Désiré Kabila became the public leader of the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo (AFDL), backed by neighboring states. The rebellion quickly turned into a nationwide campaign to remove President Mobutu Sese Seko, whose rule was already weakened by economic collapse and regional instability. This conflict set the stage for Kabila’s rise to power.
AFDL forces entered Kinshasa, and Mobutu fled, ending his long rule. The fall of the capital marked the practical end of the First Congo War and opened a sudden transition of state power. Kabila moved quickly to consolidate control at the center.
Kabila became president and replaced the name “Zaire” with the “Democratic Republic of the Congo.” The name change signaled a break with the Mobutu era and reconnected the state to the name used at independence in 1960. It also marked the beginning of Kabila’s short and turbulent presidency.
A decree law defined the basic structure of the new state, including the presidency, government, and courts. This helped Kabila govern without a fully re-established constitutional order after the war. It also concentrated power in the presidency during a period of political uncertainty.
In 1998, Kabila expelled Rwandan forces that had stayed in the country after the 1997 victory. The move aimed to strengthen his domestic legitimacy, but it sharply worsened relations with Rwanda and increased regional tensions. These tensions soon fed into a new rebellion and a much larger war.
An uprising in the east quickly grew into a major rebellion supported by Rwanda and Uganda, with the Rally for Congolese Democracy (RCD) emerging as a key armed movement. Kabila’s government responded by mobilizing allies, and the conflict escalated into a regional war involving multiple African states. The war would dominate Kabila’s remaining time in office.
Rebel forces and allied units launched Operation Kitona in western DRC, capturing key locations and moving toward the capital region. The offensive created a serious crisis for Kabila’s government and showed the conflict was not limited to the east. With outside military help, the government ultimately prevented the attack from toppling Kinshasa.
In South Kivu, large-scale killings of civilians took place at Kasika and nearby villages during the early months of the Second Congo War. The massacre became one of many examples of widespread abuse against civilians in the conflict. Such events deepened fear, displacement, and distrust between armed groups and communities.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo and several neighboring states signed a ceasefire agreement in Lusaka intended to halt fighting and create mechanisms to monitor violations. The agreement also pointed toward an “inter-Congolese dialogue,” meaning political talks among Congolese parties, alongside plans for UN involvement. While fighting continued in places, Lusaka became a key diplomatic framework for later peace efforts.
In Kisangani, Rwandan and Ugandan troops—both previously aligned against Kabila—fought openly for control and influence. The battle underlined that the war was also driven by competition among foreign backers and armed groups, not only by the fight between the government and rebels. Civilians suffered heavily as fighting hit an urban center.
The UN Security Council created MONUC (the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo) to support implementation of the Lusaka process. Its initial tasks included liaising with signatories, investigating ceasefire violations, and preparing to observe disengagement of forces. This was a major step toward sustained international monitoring of the conflict.
Kabila was shot inside his official residence at the Palais de Marbre in Kinshasa by a member of his own security detail. The assassination created immediate uncertainty during an ongoing regional war. It also triggered a rapid succession process to prevent a collapse of central authority.
Joseph Kabila, Laurent-Désiré Kabila’s son, was inaugurated as president to fill the leadership vacuum. He inherited a state still divided by war and dependent on shifting alliances and foreign military involvement. His inauguration marked the formal end of Laurent-Désiré Kabila’s presidency and the start of a new phase of peace negotiations and war management.
Laurent-Désiré Kabila's Presidency and Assassination (1997–2001)