The FLNC was formed in Angola under the leadership of Nathaniel Mbumba, with the goal of overthrowing Mobutu Sese Seko, the leader of Zaire.

Led by Nathaniel Mbumba,[2] they fought for the Portuguese colonial power during the Angolan War of Independence and eventually formed the FLNC in 1967.

[5] The FLNC was formed in Angola under the leadership of Nathaniel Mbumba with the goal of expelling Mobutu Sese Seko, the leader of Zaire.

The French reinforcements worked in conjunction with the Zairian Armed Forces to beat back the FLNC with air cover from Egyptian pilots flying French-built FAZ Dassault Mirage 5 fighter jets.

During the First Congo War, the FLNC fought on the side of the Zairian army due to shared opposition to the presence of Rwandan troops in Zaire,[14] but subsequently became favourable to the AFDL rebels led by Laurent-Désiré Kabila.