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Africa @ War #14
Great Lakes Conflagration: Second Congo War, 1998–2003
Great Lakes Conflagration' is the second in two volumes covering military operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) at the turn from the 21st century. This volume explores developments in the DRC that led to the outbreak of violence in August 1998, and systematically details the continued build-up and status of the Congolese, Rwandan and Ugandan armies, as well as the forces of Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe and other African countries that were sucked into the conflict.
Recounted is the Rwandan attempt to topple the government of Laurent Kabila through an operation that saw a redeployment of some of best Rwandan units from Kigali and Goma to the western DRC, resulting in a series of fierce air-land clashes with Zimbabwean and Angolan forces and culminating in the Battle of Kinshasa. Also described is the fighting along what became the 'Eastern Front' in the DRC, as Zimbabwean and allied troops attempted to stop Rwandan, Ugandan and rebel advances out of Kivu Province in the direction of the Congo River through 1998 and 1999.
These early phases of the war, or 'The First African War' as it has come to be known, were characterized by surprising outflanking and infiltration maneuvers; foreign mercenaries; Zimbabwean Hawk and Lynx light strikers flying intensive combat operations from N'Djili airport, half of which was occupied by Rwandans, Ugandans and Congolese rebels; interdiction strikes guided by special forces deployed deep behind enemy lines; operations of helicopter gunships and transport aircraft under intense ground attack in support of troops cut off by advancing opponents; use of transport aircraft as makeshift bombers in bad weather and by night and clashes of armored forces and many other elements of 'high-technology' warfare.
All the protagonists deployed their best military units, their best equipment and some of their best military commanders, yet despite their best efforts, and hampered by in-fighting, the conflict ultimately resulted in a stalemate which dragged on for a further three years while negotiations bogged down.
This book is illustrated with an extensive selection of exclusive photography, color profiles and markings, making it of special interest to enthusiasts and professionals alike.
Recounted is the Rwandan attempt to topple the government of Laurent Kabila through an operation that saw a redeployment of some of best Rwandan units from Kigali and Goma to the western DRC, resulting in a series of fierce air-land clashes with Zimbabwean and Angolan forces and culminating in the Battle of Kinshasa. Also described is the fighting along what became the 'Eastern Front' in the DRC, as Zimbabwean and allied troops attempted to stop Rwandan, Ugandan and rebel advances out of Kivu Province in the direction of the Congo River through 1998 and 1999.
These early phases of the war, or 'The First African War' as it has come to be known, were characterized by surprising outflanking and infiltration maneuvers; foreign mercenaries; Zimbabwean Hawk and Lynx light strikers flying intensive combat operations from N'Djili airport, half of which was occupied by Rwandans, Ugandans and Congolese rebels; interdiction strikes guided by special forces deployed deep behind enemy lines; operations of helicopter gunships and transport aircraft under intense ground attack in support of troops cut off by advancing opponents; use of transport aircraft as makeshift bombers in bad weather and by night and clashes of armored forces and many other elements of 'high-technology' warfare.
All the protagonists deployed their best military units, their best equipment and some of their best military commanders, yet despite their best efforts, and hampered by in-fighting, the conflict ultimately resulted in a stalemate which dragged on for a further three years while negotiations bogged down.
This book is illustrated with an extensive selection of exclusive photography, color profiles and markings, making it of special interest to enthusiasts and professionals alike.
72 pages, Paperback
First published November 19, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 3, 2017
Disappointing and not up to the first book, I hope this is only a mishap.
While the reasons of this 2nd Congo war are as skimmed as the operations, the author indulges himself once again with his love for aircrafts, with a minutiae that contemplates total boredom. Considering the relative few number of aircrafts involved, I can understand Cooper gives us the exact number and types but going down to serial numbers is overkill.
Still not enough maps. Don't know about you but I'm no expert on the geography of Congo. This lack of maps remains the nagging point of the whole series (6 books so far, same problem in each and everyone of them).
While the reasons of this 2nd Congo war are as skimmed as the operations, the author indulges himself once again with his love for aircrafts, with a minutiae that contemplates total boredom. Considering the relative few number of aircrafts involved, I can understand Cooper gives us the exact number and types but going down to serial numbers is overkill.
Still not enough maps. Don't know about you but I'm no expert on the geography of Congo. This lack of maps remains the nagging point of the whole series (6 books so far, same problem in each and everyone of them).
November 23, 2025
Interesting and short overview of the Second Congo War, focusing heavily on frontline military operations. I found it useful in becoming acquainted with the dizzying array of factions in the conflict. The Zimbabwean armed forces come off very well in this account, as a skilled and well-disciplined military that, nearly alone among the combatants in the conflict, did not commit abuses against civilians. The book focuses heavily on air operations, likely due to the author's background, and it appears to me that the air war was perhaps not worthy of such intense focus.
January 2, 2016
The Great Lakes Conflagration continues the accounting of the reporting of "Africa's World War" that could be laid at the feet of the Rwandan Genocide and the events that it triggered in the neighboring Congo. Unlike the first party of the conflict, this war not only saw relatively evenly marched opponents in many ways, but also much more sophisticated levels of combat than were often seen in past wars on Congo.
The book begins with a quick refresher into how the war came into being as well as the principal actors om both sides. From there it takes a chronological look at the war, its prosecution, and aftermath for all involved.
The book is excellently written as books in this series typically are, and Tom Cooper's command of English continues to grow. He treats the subject matter honestly, warts and all, and is able to make a very complex conflict relatively ready to understand. At the same time, the narrative is engaging and interesting and is lavishly illustrated with a variety of photos.
The book is interesting also for its somewhat unconventional view on a variety of actors. Firstly, it paints the Rwandan Tutsis as no longer being the victims, but instead the perpetrators of terror. Secondly, it gives an intriguing look into the operations of the ZDF in their first major external oppression since 1980. For all their internal problems with their own people, its intriguing to see the ZDF described add a relatively professional force capable of both learning from the Rhodesian bush war and carrying out complex operations (though their opponents were not exactly the most competent nor well equipped). Regardless, it makes the book almost worth it for that alone.
The Africa@War series continues to amaze me with its affordable coverage of conflicts and units that have not always gotten their fair share of military bookshelf space in the past. As a look at continued conflict in the Congo in the late 90s and early 2000s, this book is more than adequate add a way for someone to stick their toes into this complex and confusing war. Very recommended.
The book begins with a quick refresher into how the war came into being as well as the principal actors om both sides. From there it takes a chronological look at the war, its prosecution, and aftermath for all involved.
The book is excellently written as books in this series typically are, and Tom Cooper's command of English continues to grow. He treats the subject matter honestly, warts and all, and is able to make a very complex conflict relatively ready to understand. At the same time, the narrative is engaging and interesting and is lavishly illustrated with a variety of photos.
The book is interesting also for its somewhat unconventional view on a variety of actors. Firstly, it paints the Rwandan Tutsis as no longer being the victims, but instead the perpetrators of terror. Secondly, it gives an intriguing look into the operations of the ZDF in their first major external oppression since 1980. For all their internal problems with their own people, its intriguing to see the ZDF described add a relatively professional force capable of both learning from the Rhodesian bush war and carrying out complex operations (though their opponents were not exactly the most competent nor well equipped). Regardless, it makes the book almost worth it for that alone.
The Africa@War series continues to amaze me with its affordable coverage of conflicts and units that have not always gotten their fair share of military bookshelf space in the past. As a look at continued conflict in the Congo in the late 90s and early 2000s, this book is more than adequate add a way for someone to stick their toes into this complex and confusing war. Very recommended.
September 25, 2016
Although this was a good account of the Second Congo War especially the incredibly bold and risky gambit by Rwanda to win the war in one bold stroke-Operation Kitona, it was marred by a almost complete lack of maps and over indulgence in photos of airplanes. 74 pictures of aircraft and three barely readable maps, in an area of the world barely familiar to most readers. Flyboy Tom Cooper should of spent a little more space on maps and less on indulging his interest in military aviation. Any military book gets a major down grade in my estimation for a paucity of maps.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews