The role of civil society in conflict resolution and peace building in the democratic republic of Congo

This study is set to examine the role of civil society in conflict resolution and peace building in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).While there has been difficulties in establishing whether there is casual relationship between the civil society participation in negotiations and durability of peace agreements, the findings show that the lack of access and participation of civil society in DRC led to the failure of Lusaka Accord which was actually revised in the Sun city Accord in South Africa. This study examined the following questions: How is the state-civil society relationship in conflict resolution and peace building in DRC? What are the civil society programme activities that promote social cohesion and sustainable peace in DRC? How is their institutional capacity to perform the role of conflict resolution and peace building in DRC? What are the external factors involved in conflict resolution and peacebuilding in DRC? What is the nature of relationship between external actors and the local civil society? The findings reveal that despite the failure of Lusaka Accord which was revised in the Sun City in South and Inter-Congolese Dialogue, the crucial role played by foreign and local civil society Organisations in DRC and in Eastern DRC is highly encouraging for durable peace in DRC. These civil society organisations have made use of political structures to have access to negotiations and are paving the way for social, political and economic reconstruction of the Congolese society.