Second Congo War (1998-2003)

The Second Congo War, involving nine African nations and 25 armed groups, is often called "Africa's World War." With 5.4 million deaths — mostly from war-related disease and famine — it was the deadliest conflict since World War II, yet it received a fraction of comparable Western media attention. Its lasting impact: regional destabilisation of Central Africa, entrenched mineral extraction by armed groups, and a humanitarian crisis that continues in 2026.