The First Congo War took place from 1996 to 1997 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It began when a coalition of rebel groups, led by Laurent-Désiré Kabila, sought to overthrow the long-standing dictator Mobutu Sese Seko. The conflict was fueled by ethnic tensions and the aftermath of the Rwandan Genocide, which led to an influx of refugees and armed groups into the DRC. The war resulted in the fall of Mobutu and the establishment of Kabila as the new leader of the DRC. However, the conflict also set the stage for further instability, leading to the subsequent Second Congo War. The First Congo War highlighted the complex interplay of regional politics and the impact of colonial legacies in Central Africa.