Conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo: Dynamics, Trends and Challenges for Peace

Abstract

In the post-independence, neither the name of the state nor peace lasted for long in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).  The conflict has continued in the eastern Congo that has been the epicenter of all phases of Congolese wars.  The price of successive conflicts has been immense for the Congolese peoples.  Based on the analytical literature review, the purpose of this study is to examine the conflict dynamics, trends and regional security dynamics as critical challenges that impede efforts to resolve successive Congolese conflicts.   The conflicts and regional Security dynamics are as complex as the challenges of resolving them are difficult.  A unique combination of factors explain the unraveling of the Congolese conflicts, some intrinsic to the Congolese state and war economy, others emanating from the shifting alliances in the region, the regional geopolitics and security dynamics across borders in the smaller Great Lake Region (SGLR).   The study uncovered that Congolese conflict is strongly linked to regional security dynamic of the SGLR.   The Congolese state failure and Regional Security complex are critical challenges that impede efforts to build sustainable peace in the region. 

Introduction: