The war of Zaire lasted from Oct. 24 1996 to May 16 1997. The war was a foregin invastion of Zaire led by Rwanda. Destabilization in eastern Zaire was a result formed by the Rwandan Genocide. They first advanced from the east. Then they they moved north a little more. Following that, they advanced to centeral, northern, and southen Zaire. Finally, they traveled to the west.tEven thought Zaire had a bigger population and millitary strangth Rwanda still managed to cause quite a lot of casualties and deaths.