The conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been both an internal and interstate/regional conflict. It was originally, a low-intensity internal conflict between Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groups as a result of the Hutu refugee exodus from the Rwandan conflict in the mid-1990s. However, a government level power struggle escalated the conflict. A military coup in 1997 resulted in a change of leadership, which was variously supported and challenged by neighbouring countries. Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda have given support to rebel groups opposed to the new regime, and Angola, Chad, Namibia, Sudan and Zimbabwe have given the government military and/or financial assistance. This led to an increase in violence and hostility; over 3.5 million people have been killed and more than 1.5 million have been displaced as a result of the conflict (Armed Conflict Database). A cease-fire agreement was signed with rebel groups in 1999, and this was followed by peace accords with Rwanda and Uganda in 2002. A democratic election was held in 2006, and many refugees from Tanzania, Uganda and within the DRC have begun returning to the east. However, sporadic internal violence continues and the DRC is still experiencing political tensions.