“Difficult to Repair”: Applying African Models for Transitional Justice to Peace and Restoration Prospects in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

More than a decade after the Pretoria Accord officially ended the Congo Wars, sporadic fighting continues in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), defying conventional conceptions of postconflict transition. This paper highlights the limits of applying macro-level analysis to the Congolese situation and asserts that political, economic, and social cleavages at the local level continue to fuel national instability. The study draws on African experiences of transitional justice in Sierra Leone and Rwanda to offer specific lessons on how institutions at multiple levels of analysis can work together to foster peace and accountability. By analyzing implementation levels and the legitimacy of institutions, the paper demonstrates that a more contextualized approach, one that incorporates local actors who are often marginalized from the peacebuilding process, better illuminates the challenges and prospects for transitional justice, especially since finding legitimacy in the eyes of local citizens is paramount for establishing a sustainable peace.