Congo Civil War
What is the Congo civil war?
The Congo civil war was a guerrilla war between Pascal Lissouba and Sassou Nguesso (BBC). Lissouba was the President of the Republic of Congo and he was overthrown by Nguesso and he became president in October of 1997 (BBC). In August of 1998 the militia men loyal to Lissouba and his government launched a guerrilla war on president Nguesso’s new government, in an attempt to take back control (BBC).
Pascal Lissouba
How did the war affect the Country?
Due to the war in Congo, most of the fighting was in Brazzaville; a very populated city in Congo. The war resulted in 10,000 deaths in Brazzaville alone, and displaced 200,000 civilians (Necrometrics Death Toll). Now the citizen life there is terrible, an estimated six million people f die from conflict, hunger and disease since 1998 (International Rescue Committee). Now due to the complications that the war created, 72 percent of the population is undernourished (International Rescue Committee). The war led to extreme violence, major population displacement, and the collapse of public health facilities (International Rescue Committee). This war not only affected the Country then it is still affecting them now.
Brazzaville Brazzaville
Who fought for Lissouba?
After Sassow had taken over control of Congo; loyal followers of Lissouba joined together and tried to take back Congo which started the fighting (BBC). Lissouba had three, main guerrilla forces (African Studies Center). One of the main forces was his Ninja militia. The Ninja militia was allied to Bernard Kolelas, who was Lissouba’s prime minister and mayor of Brazzaville while Lissouba was in power (Global Security). It is believed that there were up to 3000 active fighters of the Ninja Militia. The other important militias that were allied with the Ninjas were the Cobra Militia and the Cocoye Militia.
Ninja Rebels in Congo
How did it end?
Lissouba’s guerrillas tried to take back the government, but it was unsuccessful. Nguesso signed a peace deal with Lissouba in 1999 demilitarizing the parties (Global Security). In April of 2001 Congo adopted a new constitution paving the way for Presidential and Parliamentary elections (Global Security). This war had a major impact on this country. It is now considered one of the most abandoned humanitarian crises (International Rescue Committee).
Work Cited
"Republic of Congo Civil War." GlobalSecurity.org - Reliable Security Information. Ed. John Pike. Global Security. Web. 27 Sept. 2011. <http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/congo-b.htm>.
"BBC News - Timeline: Republic of Congo." BBC News - Home. BBC. Web. 27 Sept. 2011. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/1076836.stm>.
1,524,000, Guomindang (kmt):. "Kishasha Congo." Twentieth Century Atlas - Death Tolls. Necrometics, 2008. Web. 03 Oct. 2011. <http://necrometrics.com/20c1m.htm#Co98>.
"Subject: CONGO-BRAZZAVILLE: Background on Militia Groups 1999.2.17." African Studies Center, University of Pennsylvania. Ed. Ali-Dinar. IRIN, 17 Feb. 1999. Web. 05 Oct. 2011. <http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Hornet/irin_21799.html>.
IRC. "The IRC in Democratic Republic of Congo." International Rescue Comittee. International Rescue Comittiee. Web. 10 Oct. 2011. <The IRC in Democratic Republic of Congo>.
