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eventREF E-0097661Revised

Event record

Shaba War in Zaire comes to an end

Shaba War in Zaire comes to an end

Date
26 May 1977
Updated
30 Sep 2019
Shaba War in Zaire comes to an end

The first Shaba war (also referred to as Shaba I) broke out on 8 March 1977 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, when Angola-based guerrillas of the Front for the National Liberation of Congo (Front pour la Liberation Nationale de Congo (FLNC) took the border town of Dilolo, in the western Shaba region, en route to the mining centre of Kolwezi, where they instigated out the attack. The war culminated towards the end of May 1977. A year later, the FLNC captured the mining town in what became known as Shaba II. The Shaba wars emerged during Mobutu Sese Seko rule. The FLNC plans to seize Mobutu were thwarted when he was rescued by French troops on both of the Shaba incursions.

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How we know this

  1. 01Bobb, S.F.(2010), Historical Dictionary of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, (Scarecrow Press),p.475

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2014, May 23). Shaba War in Zaire comes to an end. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0097661

South African History Online (2014) 'Shaba War in Zaire comes to an end', South African History Online, 23 May. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0097661 (Accessed: 5 August 2026).

South African History Online, Shaba War in Zaire comes to an end [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0097661, (accessed 5 August 2026).

"Shaba War in Zaire comes to an end." South African History Online, 23 May 2014, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0097661. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

South African History Online. "Shaba War in Zaire comes to an end." South African History Online. May 23, 2014. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0097661.

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