Capture of Lubumbashi

Capture of Lubumbashi
Part of the First Congo War
Entrance to Lubumbashi, 2003
Date April 9, 1997 Location Lubumbashi, Zaïre Result Victory of AFDL and allies
Belligerents
Zaire	AFDL  Rwanda  Zambia
Commanders and leaders
Peneloa Molan Nsimba Kinene Nsau Nzuzi	Ntambo Mutchaïl Sylvain Mbumba
Units involved
21st Brigade of the Special Presidential Division Zairian Civil Guard	People's Liberation Army of Congo Katangese Tigers Rwandan Patriotic Army Zambian Defence Force

The capture of Lubumbashi took place in April 1997, during the First Congo War in southern Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo). The rebels of the Alliance des forces démocratiques pour la libération du Congo (AFDL) took the city of Lubumbashi from the Zairean armed forces (FAZ) loyal to President Mobutu Sese Seko.

The city, capital of the mining province of Katanga, was targeted by rebels following their conquest of eastern Zaire. Supported by their Rwandan allies, AFDL troops were joined by Katangese exiles from Angola. Airlifted to Zambia, the rebels overran the city's defenses and put the demoralized FAZ to flight. The capture of the city strengthened the legitimacy of Laurent-Désiré Kabila, leader of the AFDL, in his victorious advance until the capture of Kinshasa on May 17, 1997.^[1][2]