This chapter explores the evolving landscape of conflict resolution and peacebuilding in West Africa, situating it within broader post-Cold War shifts in international relations and state development. Using Côte d’Ivoire as a key case study, it critically examines the inadequacies of negative peace and elite-driven settlements in addressing the deep-rooted structural causes of conflict, including identity politics, socio-economic inequality, and historical grievances. The analysis underscores the limitations of conventional conflict resolution methods and highlights the need for more transformative and inclusive approaches. The chapter also examined the role of international actors, particularly the United Nations, whose interventions, while legitimised by global mandates, often struggle with operational and contextual challenges. It argues that sustainable peace requires moving beyond externally imposed liberal frameworks towards strategies grounded in local realities. The work of theorists such as Johan Galtung and John Paul Lederach is employed to frame peacebuilding as a multi-level, long-term process involving grassroots, middle-range, and top-tier actors. Attention is also given to the rising prominence of civil society organisations (CSOs), which play dual roles as mediators and advocates for structural change. However, their effectiveness is shaped by political opportunity structures, financial resources, and relationships with both state institutions and international donors. The chapter further explores the ‘local turn’ in peacebuilding, which emphasises community ownership and participation while cautioning against romanticized views of tradition. Finally, the chapter links peacebuilding to state-building and the human security paradigm, arguing that sustainable peace hinges on inclusive governance, institutional legitimacy, and the protection of individual wellbeing.