We’ve just received incredible news from our team in Obo, Central African Republic – 13 women and children have escaped from the LRA. This is the largest number of returnees that we have seen since December of 2013, and it’s a huge victory for the counter-LRA mission.
*faces of children have been blurred to protect their identity.
Who has returned?
A 15-year-old girl from DRC, who has been in the LRA for over 8 months.
Two Ugandan women: a 23-year-old was abducted in 2004, with a 4-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son. A 20-year-old woman was abducted in 2001 and returned with three children: 9, 6 and 2 years old.
Two women whose country of origin is not yet known: a 19-year-old, abducted in 2008, with a two-year-old child. The second woman is 25 and was abducted in 2000. She came out with her one-year-old and seven-year-old.
Here’s why this news is huge:
Not only did 13 people just regain their freedom, but this could point to a shift in the strategy of the LRA.
This mass return of women and children is a testament that our collective efforts are working. The commitment and collaboration of African Union forces, U.S. military advisors, local civil society leaders, and Invisible Children, with our partners and supporters, all played a significant role in making this news possible. Together we are peacefully dismantling the LRA from within. What an amazing day.
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