On June 9th, a 12-year-old Congolese girl, Michelle*, arrived in the village of Kpaika, Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) after eight months of captivity with the LRA.
Michelle was abducted from her hometown last November while on her way to school. The LRA group that kidnapped her was comprised of six armed men, women and children. While with the LRA, Michelle acted mainly as a porter, obligated to carry looted goods long distances. She was also forced to participate in attacks on communities in DR Congo including Kpaika, Bangadi, Taduru, Kiliwa, Doruma, and Nambia.
Michelle shared with members of the Community Defection Committee (CDC) in Kpaika, that the LRA group she was kidnapped by had been primarily based around Nambia (note: and is likely one of the groups that has been regularly attacking communities in the Bangadi-Niangara-Ngilima Triangle). However, the leader of the group had a wounded leg and when he died, the second in command told Michelle’s group that they would be relocating to Garamba National Park, a historically strategic location for the LRA. While on the way to Garamba Michelle recognized Kpaika and on June 7th, while the five armed LRA fighters and their captives were asleep, Michelle escaped.
The Kpaika CDC, that received Michelle after her escape, along with two ICDRC staff members
She walked for a number of days through the bush and eventually made her way back to Kpaika. She was discovered on a farm there on June 9th, and was immediately taken to the Invisible Children and SAIPED sponsored CDC in Kpaika. The CDC cared for her and was able to get a message of her safe return to her home village. Michelle is now home with her grandmother and receiving medical treatment.
We are so thankful for Michelle’s safe return, and her courageous decision to escape. We are also encouraged by our Community Defection Committees throughout central Africa that are helping facilitate the safe return of LRA captives like Michelle. Invisible Children, in collaboration with local partners like SAIPED, is committed to expanding the CDC program across the region so that defectors and escapees are guaranteed a safe place to surrender.
*Name has been changed to protect the identity of the LRA victim
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