Timeline: DR Congo conflict

BBC News Online charts the course of the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with links to the key news stories, analysis, audio and video:

January 2001

President Kabila is shot dead, reportedly by one of his bodyguards. His son Joseph takes over as acting leader.
Three thousand Congolese soldiers who fled into Zambia following an upsurge of fighting are sent back to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Confusion over Kabila's fate

Zambia kicks out Congo soldiers

December 2000

Defence chiefs from six African countries sign an agreement to withdraw their troops to allow deployment of UN observers. But there are continuing clashes between rival groups in the north east of the country, and further talks held in Gabon break down after rebel groups fail to attend.

DR Congo deal signed

Congo talks postponed

Regional clashes in DR Congo

August 2000

Leaders of the countries involved in the Congolese civil war - Rwanda, Uganda, Angola, Namibia and Zimbabwe - meet President Kabila in Lusaka to assess implementation of the previous year's peace agreement. The talks end in failure.

Congo peace talks fail

Congo war: no way out

Kabila rejects peace accord

June 2000

Tensions between old allies Rwanda and Uganda - who back different factions in Kisangani - erupt into the worst fighting yet seen in the Congolese city. The adversaries later agree to leave the city in a UN-brokered deal.

Heavy fighting resumes in Kisangani

UN to monitor Congo pull-out

February 2000

Brutal ethnic fighting erupts between communities in the rebel-held east. Meanwhile, the United Nations Security Council authorises a 5,500-strong UN force - including 5,000 soldiers - to monitor the ceasefire.

Congo's war within a war

UN approves Congo force

December 1999

With heavy fighting taking place in the north, US envoy Richard Holbrooke visits the region attempting to get peace back on track.

The renewed fighting in the Congo threatens to leave the Lusaka agreement in tatters

Richard Holbrooke

Grim prospects for peace (11 December)

Deal struck for surrounded Zimbabwean troops (7 December)

US issues stark warning (6 December)

Rebels lose northern town (3 December)

November 1999

UN and OAU advance teams arrive but the ceasefire is looking increasingly shaky.

Zimbabwe losses add up (25 November)

UN team starts work (11 November)

October, September 1999

Amid allegations of ceasefire violations, rebel groups turn down an invitation from President Laurent Kabila to take part in a national dialogue on reconciliation.

Peace at risk - warning (30 October)

Government accused of breaking truce
(2 October)

Rebel groups reject talks (16 September)

August 1999

After a year of thwarted attempts to end the civil war, a major step towards peace is taken as the last rebel group signs up for a ceasefire agreement.

Rebels sign ceasefire at last (31 August)

Analysis: The difficult road ahead

Troops from Uganda and Rwanda backing rival rebel factions clash fiercely in the city of Kisangani, prompting frantic diplomatic efforts to ease tensions.

Foreign troops clash in Kisangani (15 August)

Crisis talks for former African allies

Analysis: Old alliance under strain

What BBC News Online users think

July 1999

Journalists visit Gbadolite, the town hosting the opulent former palace of the late President Mobutu, and one of the most recent places to fall to rebels in the north.

Congo's most curious town (26 July)

Cathy Jenkins reports from Gbadolite

A ceasefire is agreed and signed in Lusaka by all sides in the conflict except one of the two main rebel groups, who are locked in a factional dispute and pledge to carry on fighting.

Rumour and gossip at Congo's peace talks

Rebels refuse to sign

Six countries sign accord (11 July)

Main points of peace plan

June 1999

Momentum grows towards finding a peaceful settlement to the conflict, despite the capture by rebels of President Kabila's home town.

Congolese rebels control Kabila's home town (8 June)
President Kabila's battle song, as heard on Congo TV

Mandela calls Congo ceasefire summit (2 June)

May 1999

Rebel divisions emerge as the Rwandan-backed RCD rebel group in Goma ousts leader Wamba dia Wamba.

Rwanda declares unilateral ceasefire (28 May)

Congolese rebels appoint new head (19 May)

Kabila 'bombs rebel towns' (12 May)

April 1999

An agreement brokered by Colonel Gaddafi is reached in Libya to help end the fighting, but is immediately criticised.

Uganda plays down Sirte agreement (20 April)

Rwanda dismisses Congo peace deal

Kabila hails deal
March 1999

Zimbabwe denies 80 of its soldiers are killed by rebels in fierce fighting in the east, as government forces and their backers seek to halt a rebel advance towards the key diamond-rich town of Mbuji-Mayi. In Kinshasa, Britain becomes embroiled in a spying row after the expulsion of five officials.

Rwanda hails Congo 'victory' (16 March)
Rebel leader John-Pierre Bemba will fight on despite his father's cabinet appointment

Britain recalls ambassador (12 March)

February 1999

Rebels say they have launched a major new offensive on three fronts in the north and the southeast as refugees flee the fighting.

Rebels launch 'major offensive' (16 February)

January 1999

Map showing rebel-held areas (December 1999)

There are reports of several massacres, including one of up to 500 civilians over the New Year, as Zimbabwe admits receiving support from other countries in the region.

Zimbabwe names backers in Congo war (8 January)

Congo rebels investigate massacre allegations (6 January)

Nuns report massacre

December 1998

Efforts to halt Africa's "first world war" make little progress at the OAU as rebels accuse Angolan and Zimbabwean troops of launching a counter-offensive in the northwest.

Africa summit ends in deadlock (18 December)

Government offensive in Congo (5 December)

Mugabe defends fighting for Congo (4 December)

Mugabe's unpopular war

November 1998

Rwanda acknowledges its forces are fighting on the side of rebels for the first time, as the Ugandan backed MLC make advances in the north.

Civilian atrocities in Congo condemned (24 November)

Inconclusive end to Botswana talks

Rwanda finally admits troops in DRC

Allies pledge new offensive (2 November)

October 1998

Rebels capture the government stronghold of Kindu in the east as more peace talks break down, this time in Lusaka.

Lusaka peace talks fail (28 October)

Rebels capture Kindu (13 October)

September 1998

The capital, Kinshasa, comes close to running out of food, while rebels face defeat in the west and thousands of the rebels who narrowly failed to reach Kinshasa are captured. Despite this rebels in the east are in determined mood.

Addis peace talks break down (12 September)

Kinshasa 'four days from starvation' (9 September)

South Africa shifts position

Rebels 'ready for long war'

Congolese say rebels surrounded in west

August 1998

Rebel forces, backed by Rwandan and Ugandan forces make dramatic advances across the country advancing to the gates of the capital, and causing the evacuation of foreigners and diplomats. The intervention of troops from Zimbabwe, Namibia and Angola turns the tide and the rebels are pushed back.

Angola admits fighting rebels

Rwanda warns it may invade (31 August)

Congo rebels quit Matadi
The BBC's Roger Hearing reports on the fight for Kinshasa

Kinshasa imposes curfew

Congo rebels advance on Kinshasa (22 August)

Kabila returns to Kinshasa (16 August)

US closes Kinshasa embassy, foreigners evacuate (15 August)

Zimbabwe talks fail to secure ceasefire

Rebels make gains as fighting spreads (6 August)

'Stay out of Congo' - US (5 August)

Fighting rages in rebel-held Bukavu (4 August)