The War That Doesnt Say Its Name

• The War That Doesn't Say Its Name: The Unending Conflict in the Congo*, authored by Jason Stearns and published by Princeton University Press in 2022, delves into the ongoing violence and conflicts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), particularly focusing on events following the Pretoria Accord. Stearns, an American writer with over two decades of experience working in the DRC, including his role with the United Nations Group of Experts on the country, conducted extensive research for the book using 300 interviews and UN reports. This work is Stearns's second book on the subject, following *Dancing in the Glory of Monsters: The Collapse of the Congo and the Great War of Africa*, published in 2011.

The book is structured into nine chapters, each exploring different facets of the DRC's conflicts and the UN's peacekeeping efforts from 2003 through the 2010s. Reviews have generally praised the text for its nuanced explanation of the motivations behind the continued violence in the region. Critics highlight Stearns's ability to provide context that contrasts with mainstream depictions, which often portray the conflict as senseless. For instance, *The Washington Post* noted his emphasis on local dynamics, while *International Peacekeeping* commended his respectful use of Congolese language and perspectives. The book was also included in *The Washington Post*'s 2022 "African Politics Summer Reading Spectacular" list.