Part 2/10:
To understand the dynamics at play in August 1998, a rewind to the mid-1990s reveals a complicated tapestry of alliances and conflicts. Initially, in 1996, Rwanda, Uganda, and Angola had all rallied behind Kabila in an effort to overthrow Mobutu Sese Seko, a longstanding dictator. Kabila’s leftist credentials made him a fitting face for the rebellion, while Rwandan and Ugandan forces did much of the fighting. Kabila’s rise to power in Kinshasa in 1997 seemed to signal a fresh start; however, beneath the surface, a power struggle was brewing.