About the Program

• Encouraging and facilitating the peaceful surrender of LRA combatants is one of the most effective ways to reduce threats to communities in central Africa and weaken the LRA’s ability to effectively operate. International actors, including the militaries tracking the LRA, are highly supportive and contribute to “come home” messaging with the ultimate goal of peacefully removing the LRA from the battlefield. Many LRA combatants are unwilling combatants and have little desire to continue fighting. They are hundreds of kilometers from home and far away from the original political goals of the LRA. To capitalize on the weakening resolve of LRA fighters, especially Acholi who hold high-ranking positions and command groups of people, Invisible Children has developed messaging to encourage LRA combatants to surrender with instructions for doing so safely.

  While many low-ranking LRA combatants, including women and children, have little access to FM radios, for higher-ranking combatants, especially Acholi, FM radio remains their only link to Uganda. For this reason, Invisible Children has partnered with local radios in DR Congo, Central African Republic, and South Sudan to develop programming and to build the infrastructure of radios in the region. The goal is for the messaging to reach deep into the bush and encourage the surrender of LRA commanders who control the fate of those under their command. Utilizing recently escaped or surrendered LRA, stations broadcast programming that target Acholi LRA with the story of their escape and current safety. These messages have proven to be successful across the region. According to a study done by Conciliation Resources, 89% of LRA returnees cited “come home” messaging as their primary reason for defection.

  FM radio stations Invisible Children has supported:

  • Radio Zereda in CAR
  • Tamboura FM Relay in S. Sudan
  • Ezo FM Relay in S. Sudan
  • DDR/RR Mobile FM Radio in DRC
  • Radio Rhino in DRC
  • Radio RTK in DRC

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