The Early Warning Radio Network gives communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) and Central African Republic the ability to report LRA activity to one another. Twice-daily security calls of LRA movement are made through high-frequency, two-way, long-range radios. Reports are transcribed, sent to our experts on the ground, the information is cross-checked, and the data is sent to a variety of sources, including the LRA Crisis Tracker. Below is one such report.
The Incident: June 10, four Congolese civilians were returning from hunting, 7 km south of Masombo, DR Congo. The group was ambushed by two suspected LRA forces, who wore civilian clothing and reportedly spoke Acholi, a language from an ethnic group in northern Uganda, which typically characterizes LRA members. The assailants looted all the hunters’ meat and three hunting rifles.
June 12 to 13, two Congolese men also encountered two suspected LRA forces, while on their way back from their fields, 2 km south of Mosombo, DR Congo. The assailants were armed, wore civilian clothing, and reportedly spoke Acholi. The civilians managed to escape unharmed.
Because these two events happened within a few kilometers of each other and within three days, it is likely that the same two suspected LRA forces were involved in both incidents. Additionally, the report of looting by LRA forces points to a serious, ongoing problem in the area. The theft of resources leaves communities physically vulnerable, and it also has emotional effects on civilians’ sense of security.
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