The study examined conflict causes, trends and regional security dynamics as critical challenges that impede efforts to resolve successive Congolese conflicts. This study is based on the analytical review of existing literatures. In post-independence, neither the name of the state nor the peace lasted for long in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The conflict has continued in the Eastern Congo which has been the epicentre of all phases of Congolese wars. The price of successive conflicts has been immense for the Congolese peoples. The conflicts and regional security dynamics are as complex as the challenges of resolving them are difficult. A unique combination of factors explain the unravelling of the Congolese conflicts, some intrinsic to the Congolese state and war economy, others emanating from the shifting alliances in the region, the regional geopolitics and security dynamics across borders in the smaller Great Lake Region (SGLR). The study uncovered that Congolese conflict is strongly linked to regional security dynamic of the SGLR. The Congolese state failure and Regional Security complex are critical challenges that impede efforts to build sustainable peace in the region.

Keywords: Congolese conflict, conflict dynamics, regional security complex, challenge, and state failure.