List of wars involving Rwanda

This is a list of wars involving Rwanda.

Conflict	Rwanda and allies	Opponents	Results	Ruler of Rwanda
Battle of Shangi (1896)	Kingdom of Rwanda	Congo Free State	Congo Free State victory	Mibambwe IV
Ndungutse's rebellion (1912)	German Empire Kingdom of Rwanda German East Africa	Ndungutse's coalition	Victory of Germany and the Rwandan monarchy	Yuhi V
Rwandan Revolution (1959–1961)	Kingdom of Rwanda	Parmehutu	Regime change Rwanda became a republic [1]	Kigeli V
Bugesera invasion (1963)	Rwanda Belgium	Inyenzi	Rwandan government victory Anti-Tutsi massacres in Rwanda	Grégoire Kayibanda
Rwandan Civil War (1990–1994)	Rwanda Zaire (1990) France	Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF)	Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) victory	Juvénal Habyarimana
First Congo War (1996–1997)	AFDL Rwanda Uganda [2] Burundi [3] Angola [3] SPLA [4] Eritrea [5] Supported by: South Africa [6] Zambia [7] Zimbabwe [6] Ethiopia [8] Tanzania United States (covertly) [9] Mai-Mai [a]	Zaire FAZ White Legion Sudan [4] Chad [10] Ex-FAR/ALiR Interahamwe CNDD-FDD [11] UNITA [12] ADF [13] FLNC [14] Supported by: France Central African Republic China [15] Israel [15] Kuwait (denied) [15] Mai-Mai [a]	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	Pasteur Bizimungu
Second Congo War (1998–2002) [19]	Rwandan-aligned militias: RCD RCD-Goma Banyamulenge Ugandan-aligned militias: MLC Forces for Renewal UPC Other Tutsi-aligned forces Anti-Angolan forces: UNITA Foreign state actors:   Uganda Rwanda   Burundi Libya (alleged) [20]	Pro-government: DR Congo   Angola   Chad   Namibia   Zimbabwe   Sudan (alleged) Anti-Ugandan forces: LRA ADF UNRF II FNI Anti-Rwandan militias: FDLR ALiR Interahamwe RDR Mai-Mai Other Hutu-aligned forces Anti-Burundi militias: CNDD-FDD FROLINA	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.	Paul Kagame
Eastern Congo Offensive (2009)	DR Congo Rwanda	FDLR Mai-Mai	DRC/Rwandan victory
Dongo Rebellion (2009)	Democratic Republic of the Congo Supported by: MONUC Rwanda (alleged)	Lobala rebels Possibly: Resistance Patriots of Dongo	Victory DR Congo recaptures Dongo [21]
South Sudanese Civil War (2013–2020)	UNMISS [22] Regional Protection Force [23] Rwanda Ethiopia	South Sudan SPLA Air Force Mathiang Anyoor Maban Defence Force [24] Allied militias: SSLM [25] SRF JEM [b] SPLM-N [30] [28] (alleged) SLA-AW [31] SLA-MM [31] EUPF [32] (alleged) State allies: Uganda [33] Egypt [34] (alleged) SPLM-IO [35] Nuer White Army [36] SSDM Cobra Faction [c] Greater Pibor Forces (since 2015) [38] Agwelek forces [41] [42] TFNF [43] SSFDP [44] South Sudan National Army [45] [46] NAS Arrow Boys (since Nov. 2015) Wau State insurgents [47] SSOA (until September 2018) SSOMA/NSSSOG (until Jan. 2020) Supported by: Sudan (South Sudanese gov. claim) [48]	Stalemate
Central African Republic Civil War (2020–)	Central African Republic Central African Armed Forces MINUSCA (since 2014) Rwanda (since 2020) Russia (since 2018) [49] Wagner Group [50] Russian Imperial Movement [51] Black Russians [52] Azande Ani Kpi Gbe [53] Formerly: France (2013–2021) [54]	Coalition of Patriots for Change (since 2020) Anti-balaka 3R UPC FPRC MPC PRNC CMSPR (since 2024) [55] Support: Chad (alleged) [56] RSF [57]	Ongoing Rwandan intervention in 2020 [49]
Insurgency in Cabo Delgado (2021–)	Mozambique Rwanda (from 2021) [58] Southern African Development Community (from 2021) South Africa Botswana Lesotho Tanzania Angola Zambia Malawi DRC Namibia	Ansar al-Sunna Islamic State Bandits [59]	Ongoing Mozambican and Rwandan troops launch counteroffensive, taking back many towns and cities

Notes

1. Many Mai-Mai militias in eastern Zaire initially allied themselves with Rwanda and the AFDL against Hutu militants and refugees. ^[16] As soon as most Hutu were driven away, however, many Mai-Mai groups turned against Rwanda and the AFDL. ^[17] Despite this, some anti-Hutu Mai-Mai remained allied with Rwanda and the AFDL. ^[18]
2. The SPLM-IO accused JEM of supporting Kiir's government since 2013, though JEM has denied any involvement and claims to maintain neutrality in the South Sudanese Civil War. ^[26] The Sudanese government, ^[27] aid workers ^[26] and other sources ^[28] have however affirmed that JEM is taking part in conflict on the side of the South Sudanese government. ^[29]
3. The Cobra Faction openly opposed the government until 2014, and remained in relative opposition until 2015, when it divided into a pro-government and pro-SPLM-IO faction, the latter of which formed the Greater Pibor Forces. In early 2016, the Cobra Faction effectively disbanded, when the remaining group joined the government. ^{[37] [38] [39]} In September 2016, however, the Cobra Faction was declared restored by some of its commanders and declared that it had resumed its struggle against the government. ^[40]

References

1. Crowder, edited by Michall (1984). The Cambridge history of Africa : volume 8, from c. 1940 to c. 1975 (Repr. ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN   0521224098.
2. Prunier (2004), pp. 375–376.
3. Duke, Lynne (15 April 1997). "Passive Protest Stops Zaire's Capital Cold". The Washington Post. p. A14. Archived from the original on 24 February 2011. Kabila's forces – which are indeed backed by Rwanda, Angola, Uganda and Burundi, diplomats say – are slowly advancing toward the capital from the eastern half of the country, where they have captured all the regions that produce Zaire's diamonds, gold, copper and cobalt.
4. Prunier (2004), pp. 376–377.
5. Plaut (2016), pp. 54–55.
6. "Consensual Democracy" in Post-genocide Rwanda. International Crisis Group. 2001. p. 8. In that first struggle in the Congo, Rwanda, allied with Uganda, Angola, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Burundi, had brought Laurent Désiré Kabila to power in Kinshasa
7. Reyntjens 2009, pp. 65–66.
8. Usanov, Artur (2013). Coltan, Congo and Conflict. Hague Centre for Strategic Studies. p. 36.
9. Prunier (2009), pp. 118, 126–127.
10. Toïngar, Ésaïe (2014). Idriss Deby and the Darfur Conflict. p. 119. In 1996, President Mobutu of Zaire requested that mercenaries be sent from Chad to help defend his government from rebel forces led by Lauren Desiré Kabila. ... When a number of the troops were ambushed by Kabila and killed in defense of Mobutu's government, Mobutu paid Déby a fee in honor of their service.
11. Prunier (2009), pp. 116–118.
12. Duke, Lynne (20 May 1997). "Congo Begins Process of Rebuilding Nation". The Washington Post. p. A10. Archived from the original on 24 February 2011. Guerrillas of Angola's former rebel movement UNITA, long supported by Mobutu in an unsuccessful war against Angola's government, also fought for Mobutu against Kabila's forces.
13. Prunier (2004), pp. 375–377.
14. Reyntjens 2009, pp. 112–113.
15. Reyntjens 2009, pp. 112.
16. Prunier (2009), pp. 117, 130, 143.
17. Prunier (2009), p. 130.
18. Prunier (2009), p. 143.
19. The Second Congo War lasted until 18 July 2003, but Rwanda withdrew in 2002 following the Pretoria Accord.
20. "DRC asks UN to stop Libyan 'invasion'". Mail & Guardian. 13 December 2002. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
21. DR Congo's armed forces enter troubled Dongo area, Xinhua, 15 December 2009, archived from the original on May 15, 2011.
22. "United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan". UNMISS Facts and Figures. UN. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
23. "Mandate". United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). 16 October 2015.
24. James Copnall (21 August 2014). "Ethnic militias and the shrinking state: South Sudan's dangerous path". African Arguments. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
25. "Kiir's Dinka Forces Join SSLA Rebels". Chimpreports. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
26. Small Arms Survey (2014), p. 7. sfnp error: no target: CITEREFSmall_Arms_Survey2014 (help)
27. Small Arms Survey (2014), pp. 14, 17. sfnp error: no target: CITEREFSmall_Arms_Survey2014 (help)
28. "South Sudan deploys more troops to Upper Nile as fighting intensifies". South Sudan News Agency. 9 February 2017. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
29. Small Arms Survey (2014), pp. 7, 11, 14. sfnp error: no target: CITEREFSmall_Arms_Survey2014 (help)
30. Small Arms Survey (2014), pp. 10, 11, 20. sfnp error: no target: CITEREFSmall_Arms_Survey2014 (help)
31. Craze, Tubiana & Gramizzi (2016), p. 160. sfnp error: no target: CITEREFCrazeTubianaGramizzi2016 (help)
32. "Ethiopian opposition leader denies supporting South Sudan against rebels". Sudan Tribune. 6 April 2015. Archived from the original on 21 September 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
33. Clottey, Peter (22 October 2015). "Uganda Begins Troop Withdrawal from South Sudan". VOA News. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
34. "Egypt supports South Sudan to secure Nile share". Al Monitor. 24 February 2015.
35. "South Sudan oil town changes hands for fourth time. Why?". The Christian Science Monitor. 5 May 2014. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
36. "South Sudan: 'White Army' militia marches to fight". USA Today. 28 December 2013.
37. "David Yau Yau surrenders Cobra-faction to a General linked to the SPLA-IO: Cobra-faction's splinter group". South Sudan News Agency. 12 January 2016.
38. "Murle faction announces defection to S. Sudan rebels". 24 June 2015. Archived from the original on 12 October 2017. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
39. "South Sudan's Boma state violence displaces hundreds". Sudan Tribune. 31 March 2016. Archived from the original on 30 December 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
40. "Top Cobra Faction general defects from Kiir government". Radio Tamazuj. 27 September 2016. Archived from the original on 1 October 2016. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
41. "Johnson Olony's forces prefer independent command in Upper Nile state". sudantribune.com. 17 May 2015. Archived from the original on 10 August 2018. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
42. "Government Questions SPLM/A-IO About The Position Of Gen. Johnson Olony". gurtong. 2 April 2016. Archived from the original on 7 June 2017. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
43. "The Conflict in Upper Nile". www.smallarmssurveysudan.org. 8 May 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
44. "S. Sudan's Otuho rebels unveil objectives for armed struggle". Sudan Tribune. 4 December 2015. Archived from the original on 12 October 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
45. "South Sudan General Gathoth Gatkuoth explains to Karin Zeitvogel why he broke with Riek Machar". Voice of America. 12 August 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
46. "Changson dismisses Gathoth Gatkuoth as FDP group splits over advance team to Juba". sudantribune.com. 12 July 2016. Archived from the original on 12 October 2017. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
47. "S. Sudan army in control of Wau town after heavy gunfire". sudantribune.com. 12 July 2016. Archived from the original on 12 October 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
48. "S. Sudan rebels accuse government of backing Ethiopian rebels". Sudan Tribune. 18 March 2015. Archived from the original on 26 September 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
49. Rwanda deploys troops to CAR under bilateral arrangement, The East African, Dec 22, 2020. Accessed Dec 28, 2020.
50. "Central African troops and Russian mercenaries accused of abuses in anti-rebel offensive". The New Humanitarian. 29 April 2021. Archived from the original on 21 March 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
51. Sahinkaya, Ezel; Galperovich, Danila (9 May 2020). "Radical Russian Imperial Movement Expanding Global Outreach". Voice of America . Archived from the original on 25 March 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
52. L’incroyable constellation des groupes armés en Centrafrique Archived 29 July 2023 at the Wayback Machine , 27 July 2023
53. Ndeke Luka, Ndeke Luka (2 May 2024). "Centrafrique : des miliciens A Zandé Ani Kpi Gbé intègrent les rangs des Faca à Obo". radiondekeluka.org. Radio Ndeke Luka. Archived from the original on 5 May 2024. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
54. France suspends military, budgetary support to Central African Republic Archived 20 March 2023 at the Wayback Machine , 8 June 2021
55. Centrafrica, Centrafrica (25 November 2024). "La rébellion d'Armel SAYO attaque un poste des FACA à Boulo". centrafrica.com. Centrafrica. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
56. "Chad Sends More Troops to CAR Border". Defense Post. 4 June 2021. Archived from the original on 4 November 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
57. "Sudan paramilitary funnelling weapons into Central African Republic, UN report reveals". 9 August 2019. Archived from the original on 29 June 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
58. "Rwanda Sends 1,000 Soldiers, Police to Fight Mozambique Militants". Voice of America. 9 July 2021.
59. "Beheadings, kidnappings amid surge in Mozambique attacks: UN". Al Jazeera. 7 February 2020. Retrieved 1 May 2020.

Sources

• Plaut, Martin (2016). Understanding Eritrea: Inside Africa's Most Repressive State. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN   978-0-19-066959-1.
• Prunier, Gérard (July 2004). "Rebel Movements and Proxy Warfare: Uganda, Sudan and the Congo (1986-99)". African Affairs. 103 (412): 359–383. doi:10.1093/afraf/adh050. JSTOR   3518562.
• Prunier, Gérard (2009). Africa's World War: Congo, the Rwandan Genocide, and the Making of a Continental Catastrophe. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN   978-0-19-970583-2.
• Reyntjens, Filip (2009). The Great African War: Congo and Regional Geopolitics, 1996-2006. Cambridge University Press. ISBN   978-0-521-11128-7.