A war “stopped” by Trump is worsening in Congo

The president announced It was a diplomatic triumph in the Congo, but when John Lee Anderson visited the country this fall, he found that a thirty-year-old war was still brewing on the eastern border. plus:

In an unmarked cemetery in Goma, war survivors plant subsistence crops between the gravestones. Photography by Moises Saman/Magnum for The New Yorker

Hannah Gosselin
Newsletter editor

When John Lee Anderson, Our famous foreign correspondent met the Bokomo king, at his compound in eastern Congo, this fall, where Mwami Kahimbe IV Isaac Butsitsi (or Mwami Isaac, as he is known) was wrapped in the skin of a tiger his great-grandfather had killed. He also wore a matching fur crown and carried an ivory-tipped scepter. “I govern every aspect of the lives of my people,” Mwami Isaac said. “They see me as a guardian of their traditions and a symbol of unity, as well as a bridge between tradition and modernity.”

The lives of his people were marked by years of bloody conflict. The history of the Pokomo Kingdom includes volcanic eruptions, brutal fighting, forced displacement, colonial influence, sexual violence, and much treachery, rape, and murder. Recently, the region has suffered from war; Since the outbreak of the First Congo War in 1996, the death toll is estimated at between four and six million. The remaining locals are just trying to survive.

However, except for unusual periods of unrest, the ongoing fighting in eastern Congo rarely makes international news. During Anderson’s visits to the region, which he writes about in a fascinating story for this week’s issue, he found an atmosphere of escalating aggression between rival tribes — despite Donald Trump’s repeated claims to restore peace there. Anderson’s story is a compelling, brilliantly told portrait of a ruined place ruled by generations of complex people. It’s a stunning example of the kind of in-depth reporting The New Yorker Well known, and not to be missed.

Read the story »

I also curated a bunch of other pieces for the weekend. After conquering the Thanksgiving table—and all the dynamics that come with it—you deserve to set aside some quiet time to read. Suggestions for every mood are below.

If you want to look back and laugh:

My fellow newsletter editor Ian Crouch has put together a roundup of all the great laughs of 2025. Remember when J.D. Vance went skiing in jeans? Talk about a joke.

If you want to experience a story that is equally twisted, funny, sad, and almost unbelievable:

This story, from a few years ago, involves an illegal marijuana operation, Brooklyn bees that produce red honey, and a heartbreaking family saga.

If you need to follow the news:

Jay Caspian Kang writes about Larry Summers, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and “the alleged child trafficking conspiracy that rules the world.” Kang’s predictions for what might come next are sure to surprise you.

If you buy on Black Friday of everything:

I would buy the colorful glass vases that Patricia Marks included in her guide to host gifts. Kyle Chayka also has recommendations for the techies in your life, and Jessica Winter has the kids covered.

If you are traveling and need to book to wait out an airport delay:

“The Land in Winter,” a luxuriously written, deeply psychological novel by Andrew Miller, follows a neighboring married couple. Husbands are confused about being in the countryside while their pregnant wives engage in a strange friendship. We have other recommendations too.

If you want to take a cruise without leaving the dock:

Before Gary Shteyngart convinced his editors to let him travel on the biggest ship in the world, before Loren Euler boarded the SS Goop, before David Foster Wallace tried that fun thing he would presumably never do again, Natasha Stewart sailed on the Adjaria, a Soviet ship that moved her to tears.

In case you missed it

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Our cultural choices

• It reads: “The Age of Confusion,” Lara Egger’s charming collection of poetry, is animated by irreverent irony.
• He watches: Are you navigating some uncomfortable family dynamics? Our TV critic recommends watching “The Other Two” on HBO Max.
• He listens: Phoebe Bridgers’ four-song EP “If We Make It Through December” sets the mood for the season.

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Daily animation

“I’ll be hibernating here if you need me.”

Cartoon by Sarah Kimba

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Puzzles and games

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Note: I wonder what to do With that leftover gravy? Maybe this Raymond Carver poem will inspire you to think of it as a great second chance.