Outbreak of the Second Congo War

Date: June 5, 1997 • Location: Rome, Italy

This milestone marked the outbreak and beginning of this historic period, which spanned 1997–1999.

Anticipating a coup attempt, President Pascal Lissouba of the Republic of the Congo ordered the detention of his rival Denis Sassou Nguesso, initiating a second civil war.

Pascal Lissouba was a Congolese politician who was the first democratically elected President of the Republic of the Congo and served from 31 August 1992 until 25 October 1997. He was overthrown by his predecessor and current president Denis Sassou Nguesso in the 1997 civil war.