Assessment of problems and challenges facing the United Nations’ efforts towards conflict resolution and peace building in Africa a comparative study of the Darfur region in Sudan and the democratic republic of Congo

This study investigated the problems and challenges facing the United Nations’ efforts towards conflict resolution and peace building in Africa by conducting a comparative study of Darfur Region in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo The study involved a total of seventy (70) respondents: ten (10) political group members from both countries, six (6) commissioners from both sides, eight (8) researchers/academicians from both sides, six (6) religions leaders from both regions, thirty two (32) civil society members and refugees from the said regions, two (2) UN representatives and lastly six (6) AU representatives to those countries. Data were collected through interviews and questionnaire as primary sources and documentary reviews as secondary sources. Overall study findings revealed that, the UN’s has employed a number of approaches including both forceful and non-forceful to efficiently and effectively prevent conflicts. But the UN has not been successful. Further, the study revealed that the UN faced challenges and obstacles in resolving conflicts. The study recommends that conflict resolution include Saint Egidio approaches which solved the Mozambique conflict in 1992. Also, permanent members of the UN Security Council should affect the resolutions formulated by the UN to minimize disagreements among the UN country members in resolving conflicts.