The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is a divided nation, plagued with layers of strife. It is a country in slow recovery from war. The DRC's transitional government has to grapple with continuous threats to the human rights of its citizens. The key obstacles to obtaining sustainable peace in the DRC are restraining rival armed groups and rebels, establishing economic stability and a developing a trustworthy judicial system.

Rival armed groups and rebels are the most overt problem. Despite the Goma peace agreement's collection of signatures to strictly commit to respecting international humanitarianism, such forces have continued to fight the DRC. According to the United Nations, the fighting is primarily in the North Kivu province of the DRC. As written by the Human Rights Watch organization in a letter to the International Facilitation Team (comprised of representatives from the Amani Program, the United States, the African Union and the European Union), "The human rights situation in North and South Kivu is alarming. Since the ceasefire, scores of civilians have been killed, hundreds of women and girls raped, and many more children recruited into armed service."

The second obstacle for the DRC is economic stability. The DRC will not be able to obtain any type of sustainable peace if it has to depend upon the mercy of other countries to feed its people for a prolonged period of time. According to the CIA web site, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, although slowly recovering from two decades of decline, is endowed with vast potential wealth primarily in natural resources. The "war" reduced national output and government revenue, while increasing external debt. The CIA also maintains, "Foreign businesses curtailed operations due to uncertainty about the outcome of the conflict, lack of infrastructure, and the difficult operating environment."

Another obstacle for the DRC is establishing a trustworthy judicial system. While the United Nation's International Criminal Court (ICC) is active in charging and trying of those caught violating human rights and other criminal acts. For example, in April 2008 the ICC has charged, and will try, Thomas Lubanga Dyilo for the conscription and enlistment of children under the age of 15 as soldiers. According to the United Nations Mr. Lubanga is the first to be tried.

Once the obstacles are recognized, the DRC must take further steps to ensure the success of the solution.

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