Book excerpt: In this book, the authors analyse and offer some insights into the history of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The story is told within the context of its conflicts, with an exploration of the complex and multilayered conflict causes and the attempts to resolve the conflict based on liberal peacebuilding. The book delves into an examination of gender relations in the country with insight into the gendered dimensions of conflict in the DRC and how liberal peace failed to resolve the conflict because of hidden agendas and interests by the West and other emerging powers as a typical replica of what has been ongoing in many conflict-laden countries / societies. The book is divided into two major parts. The first part, as noted above, delves into and dwells on the historicity and ontology of the conflict. The second part focuses on the various attempts at peacemaking that have taken place in the country, with emphasis on how liberal peace has failed to resolve the conflict. The book analyses various peacemaking strategies that have been employed and the role of women (or lack thereof) in peacemaking and peacebuilding processes; and finally, the failures, strengths, and weaknesses of international intervention strategies.