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On May 24th, 2010, a year that included hundreds of lobby meetings, thousands of letters, and eleven days on the streets of Oklahoma culminated in one historic moment. Just after 5pm, President Obama signed the LRA Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act into law, and released a personal statement recognizing the "hundreds of thousands of Americans who have mobilized in response to this unique crisis of conscience." In doing so he became the first U.S. President to publicly pledge that ending LRA violence and recovery for affected families across central Africa would be lasting priorities. WE HAVE A LAW, NOW WE NEED ACTION -- THE LRA IS STILL ACTIVE !!
Upsurge in LRA Attacks against Civilians in CongoPosted by Tracy Fehr on Mar 14, 2011
UPDATE: AFP is reporting this morning an attack by the LRA on the gold mining town of Nzako in the Central African Republic on Sunday, March 13. At least six people were reported killed, and between 30 and 100 abducted. Although northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo is no stranger to violence, a recent spike in civilian attacks by the Lord’s Resistance Army, or LRA, has raised international concern. During a briefing earlier this month, the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, or UNHCR, expressed alarm about the “new upsurge in violence against civilians” by the LRA in northeastern Congo.” UNHCR reported that 52 LRA raids had taken place in Orientale province since the beginning of the year. These attacks have resulted in 35 deaths, 104 abductions, and the displacement of 17,000 people. Since the briefing, the LRA has continued attacks in the area, clashing with the Congolese army as recently as March 10, according to Radio Okapi. UNHCR also noted that the LRA appears to be shifting away from targeting civilians in remote areas, to attacking more heavily populated locations in northeastern Congo. This change in LRA tactics has subsequently followed the return of LRA leader Joseph Kony to Congo. Kony allegedly crossed into the country through northern Ango territory in the Bas Uélé district in late 2010 or early 2011 with his group of more than 100, the majority of which are fighters. According to an Enough source, they have since moved into Haut Uélé and possibly joined with other LRA groups in the area. The majority of LRA fighters—as many as 250 to 300—are reportedly now in Congo. Some fighters remain in the Central African Republic and at least one group operates between Sudan and Congo. This concentration of LRA leadership and forces in Congo is a worrying development, and could potentially indicate that the LRA is attempting to regroup there. The increased presence of the LRA in Congo also helps to explain the spike in violence and abductions. Responding to recent attacks, the U.N. stabilization mission in Congo, MONUSCO, deployed about 100 special forces in the area of Bamangana, which was the scene of a gruesome LRA attack in late February that left eight people dead and 30 abducted. The main objective of the deployment is to protect civilians and to reinforce the position of the Congolese Army, or FARDC, in the area. According to Radio Okapi, MONUSCO and FARDC are planning or have begun to track down LRA fighters. Although this MONUSCO deployment is applauded, it is too little too late, and it highlights the problem that much of the remote areas in which the LRA operates remain unprotected by regional forces and peacekeeping troops. In addition, the Ugandan army has also withdrawn troops from LRA-affected areas, including Congo, in light of the recent elections in Uganda and its commitment to the African Union Mission in Somalia, or AMISOM. This has resulted in a marked reduction in the effectiveness of the campaign against the LRA. No major LRA commanders have been captured or killed since December 2009, when Bok Abudema, who was thought to be a close military advisor to Kony, was killed in the Central African Republic. There are also major disputes between the Ugandan and Congolese armies, with Congolese commanders accusing the Ugandan army of trying to get rich from Congo’s natural resources. Congolese officers and officials claim the LRA is not causing violence in Haut Uélé, but rather that it is bandits who are responsible. The latest civilian attacks, coupled with these concerning developments, reinforce the need for a robust and coordinated approach to end the threat posed by the LRA to civilians and regional stability. Recent LRA attacks reported in northeastern Congo: February 11 - The LRA launched an attack on Faradje territory, prompting several aid agencies and staff to evacuate the area. February 21 - A truck carrying relief supplies and food for the NGO Solidarités was attacked near Garamba National Park. February 24 - Civilian attack in the town of Bamangana. Eight people were reportedly killed and 30 abducted. According to UNHCR, no house was spared. February 24-25 - Civilian attack at Napakara village. According to Radio Okapi, approximately 10 people were killed, including six FARDC soldiers. Many residents were displaced. March 4 - FARDC and the LRA clashed near Dungu. Three people were reported killed, and one woman seriously injured. March 6 - The LRA attacked a convoy of six trucks containing 240 tons of food from the World Food Program, near Banda, in the Bas Uélé district. The driver, who reported the incident, does not know what happened to the 11 people who had been traveling with him. March 10 – The LRA and FARDC clashed in Banda, resulting in 8 deaths (3 Congolese soldiers and 5 LRA), according to Radio Okapi, quoting military sources. The Congolese army said that 21 abductees were freed during the operation. FLASHBACK -- WE NEED PRESIDENT OBAMA TO ACT ON HIS STATEMENTS HE MADE BELOW IN MAY, 2010 In the first Presidential statement on the LRA crisis, Obama declares his commitment to peaceMay 25th, 2010 by michael
In the more than two decades since Joseph Kony began abducting children and committing horrific crimes against families in northern Uganda, there have been five different United States Presidents. Until the statement below was released last night, not a single one of them had opted to directly and publicly address this human rights crisis. Below is the full text of the (pretty incredible) statement President Obama issued after signing the LRA Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act into law, also available on the White House website. The President notes that the "legislation crystallizes the commitment of the United States to help bring an end to the brutality and destruction that have been a hallmark of the LRA across several countries for two decades, and to pursue a future of greater security and hope for the people of central Africa." He also gave a particular shout-out to "the hundreds of thousands of Americans who have mobilized to respond to this unique crisis of conscience," saying, "We have seen your reporting, your websites, your blogs, and your video postcards — you have made the plight of the children visible to us all." Wow.
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 24, 2010 Statement by the President on the signing of the Lord’s Resistance Army Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act of 2009 Today, I signed into law the Lord’s Resistance Army Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act of 2009. The legislation crystallizes the commitment of the United States to help bring an end to the brutality and destruction that have been a hallmark of the LRA across several countries for two decades, and to pursue a future of greater security and hope for the people of central Africa. The Lord’s Resistance Army preys on civilians – killing, raping, and mutilating the people of central Africa; stealing and brutalizing their children; and displacing hundreds of thousands of people. Its leadership, indicted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity, has no agenda and no purpose other than its own survival. It fills its ranks of fighters with the young boys and girls it abducts. By any measure, its actions are an affront to human dignity. Of the millions affected by the violence, each had an individual story and voice that we must not forget. In northern Uganda, we recall Angelina Atyam’s 14-year old daughter, whom the LRA kidnapped in 1996 and held captive for nearly eight years — one of 139 girls abducted that day from a boarding school. In southern Sudan, we recall John Loboi — a father, a husband, a brother, a local humanitarian assistance worker killed in an ambush while helping others in 2003. Now, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic, the people of Dungu and of Obo, too, have their stories of loss and pain. We mourn those killed. We pray for those abducted to be freed, and for those wounded to heal. We call on the ranks of the LRA to disarm and surrender. We believe that the leadership of the LRA should be brought to justice. I signed this bill today recognizing that we must all renew our commitments and strengthen our capabilities to protect and assist civilians caught in the LRA’s wake, to receive those that surrender, and to support efforts to bring the LRA leadership to justice. The Bill reiterates U.S. policy and our commitment to work toward a comprehensive and lasting resolution to the conflict in northern Uganda and other affected areas, including northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, southern Sudan, and the Central African Republic. We will do so in partnership with regional governments and multilateral efforts. I commend the Government of Uganda for its efforts to stabilize the northern part of the country, for actively supporting transitional and development assistance, and for pursuing reintegration programs for those who surrender and escape from the LRA ranks. I also want the governments of other LRA-affected countries to know that we are aware of the danger the LRA represents, and we will continue to support efforts to protect civilians and to end this terrible chapter in central African history. For over a decade, the United States has worked with others to respond to the LRA crisis. We have supported peace processes and reconciliation, humanitarian assistance and regional recovery, protection of civilians and reintegration for former combatants, and have supported regional governments as they worked to provide for their people’s security. Going forward, we will call on our partners as we all renew our efforts. I congratulate Congress for seizing on this important issue, and I congratulate the hundreds of thousands of Americans who have mobilized to respond to this unique crisis of conscience. We have heard from the advocacy organizations, non-governmental organizations, faith-based groups, humanitarian actors who lack access, and those who continue to work on this issue in our own government. We have seen your reporting, your websites, your blogs, and your video postcards — you have made the plight of the children visible to us all. Your action represents the very best of American leadership around the world, and we are committed to working with you in pursuit of the future of peace and dignity that the people of who have suffered at the hands of the LRA deserve. |
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