Completely abandoning the mission would create a vacuum of security for vulnerable communities in the Central African Republic and northeastern DRC, and disincentivize defectors by eliminating key surrender sites. The United States should maintain its commitment to defection messaging, support to LRA-affected communities, and the ultimate capture and prosecution of Kony.
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It has been committing atrocities against civilians in parts of Africa for nearly three decades. The group claims to be fighting "in the name of God. Among the first LRA fighters were northern Ugandans who were forced out of the army during Museveni's seizure of power.
Their main goal was to establish a theocracy based on the Ten Commandments. They adopted a mix of Christian and esoteric ideology which they blended with traditional myths. But instead of observing commandments such as "Thou shalt not kill," the LRA committed bloody attacks against civilians. Since its foundation, the LRA is said to have abducted up to 70, children. Many of them are used by the militia as porters and are set free once they have reached their next destination.
Others are forcibly recruited as fighters. Please give now to support our work. Human Rights Watch. Donate Now. Take Action. Join Us. Give Now. What is the LRA fighting for? How big is the LRA? Does the LRA target children? How many people have been affected by the long war with the LRA? Where is Kony now? Why is it so hard to apprehend Kony and the other LRA leaders? What can be done to stop LRA abuses?
What should governments in the region do? What should the United States do? What should the European Union and its member countries do?
What should the UN do? What can the African Union do? What is the role of the International Criminal Court? What is known about Ugandan army abuses? What armies and armed groups besides the LRA use child soldiers? What is being done globally to end the use of child soldiers? The following steps are critical to ending LRA abuses: Deploy well-trained, capable troops in the numbers needed to protect civilians and arrest LRA leaders. Better protection of civilians in LRA-affected areas requires deploying sufficient forces, including UN forces, and ensuring that these forces have sufficient transport capacity, including helicopters, to reach threatened civilians quickly.
To apprehend LRA leaders wanted by the ICC—while minimizing risks to civilians held captive by the LRA—the capabilities of troops involved in arrest operations will need bolstering with military special forces or specially trained police units. Ensuring that these UN and other forces respect international human rights and humanitarian law is crucial. Enhance early warning and intelligence gathering. Intelligence gathering should be stepped-up to focus on LRA movements and to identify communities vulnerable to attack.
Coordination, planning, and information-sharing should be improved to allow for timely and appropriate responses to new intelligence. Improve communications, including by building cell phone towers.
The United States should quickly implement its commitment to build cell phone towers that will provide mobile phone coverage in LRA-affected areas. Efforts to ensure that high-frequency radios are available in all key population centers should be supported. Assist LRA fighters seeking to defect. Provide greater support to efforts to help LRA fighters seeking to defect. Ensure fair trials for serious crimes. Governments prosecuting war crimes and other serious offenses committed by LRA commanders should ensure they receive fair trials in accordance with international standards.
Your tax deductible gift can help stop human rights violations and save lives around the world. Related content. The U. They are, moreover, sought by the International Criminal Court for; inter alia, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
We do not have to forget that besides many deaths caused by the LRA atrocities, an estimated , people are refugees and displaced persons forced to leave their families to escape from the brutality of the armed group, "concluded Abou Moussa and Francisco Madeira.
The joint mission that they conducted from 27 March to 4 April in South Sudan, DRC and Uganda has helped increase awareness on this situation and to be sure of the continued commitment of authorities and partners to consider the fight against the LRA as one of their main priorities.
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