Hopes rose in 2002 that some of Africa's deadliest and most intransigent conflicts could soon be resolved, with peace deals or cease-fire agreements reached in six war-torn countries. Sierra Leone, Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Somalia and Burundi - countries that for much of the past decade have been a byword for strife - each made significant strides toward peace over the past year. But observers say the real test will be whether the deals signed on paper will translate into peace in practise during 2003.