Mostly recruiting from the sparsely populated northern region of the country, the Cobras numbered 8,000 at their height.
With help from Angola, the Cobra militia was able to gain the upper hand and defeat the pro-Lissouba forces.
[3] In Brazzaville, a battle between the pro-Lissouba forces and the cobra militia left much of the capital destroyed, leaving behind burned-out ruins and wrecked armored vehicles.
As the pro-Lissouba forces retreated after the fierce battle, the Cobra militia looted hundreds of Homes, Businesses, and vehicles.
[4] The Cobra militia has committed numerous human rights violations, the cobra militia has deliberately killed unarmed civilians accused of supporting their enemies,[5] rape, and looting.