<DIV>Over the past decade and a half, the Democratic Republic of Congo has been at the center of the deadliest series of conflicts since the Second World War, and now hosts the largest United Nations peacekeeping mission in the world. In The Democratic Republic of Congo, acclaimed journalist Michael Deibert paints a compelling picture of a nation in flux, inching towards peace but solidifying into what may prove to be another era of authoritarian rule, this time under its enigmatic president, Joseph Kabila.<br/><br/>Featuring a wealth of remarkable on-the-ground reportage and first-hand interviews, the book travels from war-torn villages in the country's east to the chaotic, pulsing capital of Kinshasa in order to bring us the voices of the Congolese - from impoverished gold prospectors and market women to government officials - as it explores the complicated political, ethnic and social geography of this tattered land. A must-read for anyone interested in contemporary Africa, The Democratic Republic of Congo sheds new light on this sprawling and often misunderstood country that has become iconic both for its great potential and dashed hopes.<br/></p></div>