The regional dry season in central Africa has historically seen spikes in LRA activity during which the rebel group becomes desperate for food and resorts to more frequent and aggressive looting of communities. Over the last week, groups of LRA in CAR and DRC carried out significant raids on civilians.
The incidents:
April 25th: At approximately 9am the community of Kumbonungo, CAR found themselves under attack by an unknown number of LRA. The rebel group proceeded to capture nearly everyone in the village, and forced them to carry food and other supplies from their homes and community with them. The abductees were forced to porter their property all day until they were finally told to hand over their belongings and were released. The LRA, who spoke different languages including Swahili, Pazande, and Acholi, told their captives they did not want to attack the community but were just after their food.
Later that day, what is believed to be the same group, ambushed and fired at a truck going from Zemio to Mboki, CAR. One person was killed and the driver was seriously injured. Despite his injury and a flat tire, the driver managed to escape and reach Mboki.
April 28th: A large LRA force, that may have been two separate groups, attacked and looted Zangabai, DRC. They were armed and reportedly wearing khaki military uniforms, speaking Acholi and another unidentified language. About eight households were looted of food and non-food items, a woman was injured, and seven civilians were abducted, two of which escaped shortly after. The remaining five still in captivity are Congolese men.
This is the second LRA attack on Zangabai in the past six weeks, following 16 months of no reported LRA activity within 25km of the community.
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FOR IN DEPTH ANALYSIS OF RECENT LRA TRENDS REFLECTED IN THESE MOST RECENT INCIDENTS CHECK BACK WITH US TOMORROW, MAY 1, FOR THE RELEASE OF THE 2014 FIRST QUARTER LRA CRISIS TRACKER SECURITY BRIEF. YOU’LL FIND A FULL REPORT AND BREAKDOWN OF LRA ACTIVITY BETWEEN JANUARY-MARCH 2014.
Photo Source:The Resolve, courtesy The Guardian
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