Second Congo War 1998-2003 Africa's world war

[Kenyatta]

Another fallout of the Second Congo War is the current troubles in Zimbabwe.

Mugabe bankrupted Zimbabwe even more and practically crippled the Zim Air force such as it was(due to bad losses during the war).

Mugabe and his cronies were probably the only ones who made money from war(nothing went to the Zimbabwean people except for body bags).

[AdamG]

Zimbabwe's Air Force took losses, but IIRC their effectiveness dropped off due to mechanical attrition, parts and fuel costs. For an overview of the air war, see
http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_190.shtml

Mugabe pimped out some of the 'blood diamond' profits to the Chinese for F7s and Beijing is still bound to Zimbabwe. That's both good and bad, for Mugabe.
http://www.frontline.org.za/articles..._In_Africa.htm

See also
http://www.foreignaffairs.org/200805...ith-congo.html

[Stan]

Kenyatta, welcome aboard !

Some more light reading regarding Zimbabwe's involvement in the DR Congo war

Congo War and the Role of Coltan

and approx. 24 related links under Warfare and Conflict: Specific Conflicts: Great Lakes

Regards, Stan

[Michael F]

Kenyatta,

About ZIM economical involvement in DRC do some research about Mr Billy Rautenbach:

"For reasons of alliance and payment of the war bill estimated at US $45 million, Kabila had signed an agreement between the "GECAMINES" and the Zimbabwean company Ridgepointe Overseas Developments of British Virgin Islands, which belongs to the RAUTENBACH family. The latter has good relations with President Mugabe, who, in turn, feels very close to the rich cobalt reserves of Katanga. This guarantees and helps to justify the presence of the Zimbabwean military in DRC, next to Kabila.

Billy RAUTENBAUCH, who is the Director of this Zimbabwean group, Ridgepointe, is currently leading the GECAMINES recovery committee. This confirms the fierce involvement of Zimbabwe in the resistance put up by DRC in the war led against the Ugandans, Rwandese and Burundians and their Congolese collaborators." in http://www.geocities.com/zcliste/mine2.htm.
He is still active.

Another link is the "Osleg" company: a ZAF operated company that was very active in DRC.

Finally, "A detachment of the Zimbabwean Presidential Guard is now providing close security for the youthful Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President, Joseph Kabila. It is not known why General Kabila has decided to put his life into the hands of the Zimbabwean National Army (ZNA) rather than those of Congolese nationals." in http://www.afrika.no/Detailed/10159.html

Hope it will help.