2017 Midyear Security Brief
Sectarian tensions steadily escalated in eastern Central African Republic (CAR) in the first six months of 2017. In June, violence spread from Haut Kotto and Mbomou prefectures into the communities of Zemio and Mboki in neighboring Haut Mbomou prefecture. Attacks by ex-Seleka, anti-balaka, and armed Peuhl have killed at least 346 civilians in the three prefectures since January […]
A Field Guide to Losing Your Friends // Remembering Nate Henn
On July 11, 2010, 74 people were killed in a series of terrorist bombings in Kampala, Uganda. One of those killed was an American named Nate Henn. He was our friend. Before his death, Nate had dedicated almost two years of his life as a volunteer roadie with Invisible Children. In the spring of 2010, Nate led a […]
LRA Crisis Tracker Monthly Security Brief | November 2016
Overview Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) forces abducted 25 civilians in 10 attacks in November, with a significant majority of abductions occurring in eastern Central African Republic (CAR). A series of clashes involving ex-Séléka factions in and near Bria, CAR, left at least 14 civilians dead in late November. Armed groups continued to be active in northern Democratic Republic of […]
Stories of Connection // Come Home Messages Encourage Escape
For communities in central Africa, strong connections to the world around them are vital to their safety. In this remote and isolated corner of the world, where families don’t have access to reliable communication tools, whole communities face the constant threat of armed groups that can tear families apart through violent attacks and abductions. This […]
Update on Dominic Ongwen // Trial to Begin Tomorrow
The International Criminal Court (ICC) trial of former LRA commander, Dominic Ongwen, is set to begin tomorrow. So, in preparation, we thought we would take a moment and recap where the proceedings are and talk about what we can expect to see happen moving forward. So, what’s happened so far? In early January 2015, former […]
Not enough African art in your life? We can help with that.
If you’re looking to expand your tastes in art, literature, and music…well, you’ve come to the right place. Many of the stories the rest of the world hears about Africa focus on the needs and challenges facing the continent. What we don’t hear enough about are all the rich ideas and achievements communities across Africa have […]
Ongwen Trial Update || ICC Prosecutor to Focus on Gender-Based Crimes
In early 2015, former LRA commander and International Criminal Court (ICC)-indictee Dominic Ongwen surrendered to security forces in the Central African Republic (CAR) and was later transferred to the custody of the ICC to await trial in The Hague, where he remains now that trial proceedings have begun. After being abducted by the LRA as […]
Photos from Burma’s ongoing conflict
Burmese president, Thein Sein, declared a state of emergency and deployed army troops on March 22 after sectarian violence between a Buddhist mob and local Muslims broke out in the town of Meikhtila. Anti-Muslim mobs destroyed mosques and burned down dozens of homes in three other towns over the weekend. At least 32 people have been killed […]
Bajau Laut: the nomads of the sea
A few weeks back, I ventured to Slab City with two other IC comm/art interns to explore the desert and see what life off the grid actually means. Slab City is a community who has decided to live differently. Named after the concrete slabs that were left after the deconstruction of a former army base, a […]
Feeding a generation with hope, literally & figuratively
If the success of social enterprises in the past decade is any indication of what the future of commerce looks like, the possibilities of social change is endless. It’s a step toward shifting the idea of what commercial-based businesses could be built upon. Within our own social enterprise, Mend, we work directly with women affected by the LRA, providing […]