In partnership with The Resolve, we’ve just released a new report from the LRA Crisis Tracker, which demonstrates important trends in LRA activity over the last six months. Our friend Paul Ronan does a great job at summarizing this data, which points to a spike in LRA abductions in DR Congo and Central African Republic (CAR).

Check out his recent article:

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LRA abductions in CAR and DRC surging past 2013 levels

The release of 46 women and children from LRA captivity this week is a cause for celebration, but a new report released today by Resolve and Invisible Children demonstrates that LRA attacks and abductions are at their highest since 2012. The LRA Crisis Tracker Mid-Year 2014 Security Brief highlights upward trends in LRA violence in both Congo and the CAR. The report is designed to be viewed online in an interactive format that combines concise analysis with graphs and maps. The content, easily accessible on one page, can be read in 5-10 minutes.

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You can also view specific sections of the report by visiting the following links:

Executive Summary: The LRA committed 59 attacks and abducted 185 people from April–June 2014 (Quarter 2 2014), a 2% drop in attacks and 28% rise in abductions from Quarter 1 2014. Overall, the group committed more attacks and abductions in the first six months of 2014 than it did in the first six months of 2013, reversing a three-year downward trend in LRA violence. Though levels of LRA violence remain far below their 2009–2011 peak, the total number of attacks and abductions across Congo and the CAR has stabilized over the past two years. [see graph in link]

Congo: LRA attacks rise sharply: LRA violence continued to surge in Congo’s northeastern Haut Uele district, particularly west of Garamba National Park. The LRA abducted 154 Congolese civilians in the first half of 2014, more than doubling the number abducted in the first half of 2013 (72).

Congo: Uptick in violence by unidentified armed groups: The increase in LRA activity in Haut Uele district in 2014 has been accompanied by a 55% increase in the number of attacks committed by unidentified armed groups, from 27 attacks in the first half of 2013 to 42 attacks in the first half of 2014.

CAR: Nzako–Bakouma remains hotspot of LRA activity: LRA activity in the Nzako–Bakouma area of the CAR has surged in the past year, including the defection of LRA combatants, large-scale LRA attacks, and collaboration between LRA commanders and Seleka representatives. Ugandan military troops have pursued LRA forces in the Nzako–Bakouma area, attacking LRA groups several times and even clashing with Seleka forces.

The report is also available in pdf format, though the design is more limited. A French version will be released next week.

Full English link: http://reports.lracrisistracker.com/en/midyear-2014/