The Congolese Civil War was a conflict that took place in the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 1997 to 2003. It began when a rebellion led by Laurent-Désiré Kabila overthrew the long-time dictator Mobutu Sese Seko. The war involved multiple factions, including various ethnic groups and foreign nations, leading to widespread violence and humanitarian crises. The conflict resulted in millions of deaths, primarily due to disease and starvation, making it one of the deadliest wars in African history. A peace agreement was signed in 2003, but the country continued to face instability and violence in the years that followed.