Reflections from our CEO on ICC conviction of LRA leader Dominic Ongwen
On February 4, 2021, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a verdict in the trial of former senior Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) commander Dominic Ongwen, who surrendered to African Union forces in January 2015 after almost 30 years in the bush as an LRA rebel fighter. The ICC found Ongwen guilty of 61 out of […]
While world awaits Ongwen verdict, the LRA continues to abduct children in central Africa
On February 4th, the ICC is scheduled to issue a verdict on former LRA commander, Domenic Ongwen. Meanwhile, the LRA continues to abduct children in central Africa.
How Conservation Efforts are Making Central African Communities Safer
Central Africa is home to some of the world’s most coveted resources and most diverse and magnificent wildlife. The communities we work with in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Central African Republic (CAR) are scattered throughout thick forests where elephants, giraffes, and even the odd pangolin reside. But, with little to no […]
Beloved – Aimee’s Story || Ledio Cakaj
From time to time, we come across a story that reminds us of the complicated lives of those held captive by Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). Aimee’s is one of those stories. We learned the details of Aimee’s life in the LRA through our good friend and researcher Ledio Cakaj. Ledio has spent nearly […]
World Gratitude Day | Celebrating Our Supporters
Today, on World Gratitude Day, we’re celebrating YOU — our amazing supporters. On this day set aside to commemorate all that we’re thankful for, we’re excited and proud to say ‘thanks’ to the many friends we have around the world who partner with us every day to end violent conflict and exploitation facing vulnerable communities. […]
The LRA Returns to Garamba National Park
Since 2012, Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) leader, Joseph Kony, has relied on illegal ivory poaching to fund continued violence in central Africa. Based on community reports collected through our Early Warning Radio Network and countless interviews with former LRA fighters, we know that Kony frequently orders LRA commanders to poach elephants in Garamba National Park […]
An Interview with LRA Escapees
“We were in school before. It was our 6th year. Everything was fine.” For the last four years, Camille Marie-Regnault, Invisible Children’s Protection Programs Officer, has worked with our teams in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and eastern Central African Republic (CAR) to ensure that communities in the region have the safety they need […]
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 […]
Monthly Security Brief | May 2017
A Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) group crossed the border from Central African Republic (CAR) into northern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in May 2017, abducting at least 23 people in a series of attacks on civilians en route to Garamba National Park. In eastern CAR, violence by armed groups against civilians escalated dramatically in May, with ex-Seleka […]
New Invisible Children Report on Increasing Violence in Eastern CAR
Earlier this week, the United Nations (UN) Security Council met to discuss MINUSCA, the UN’s peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (CAR), as well as the UN office responsible for coordinating regional responses to the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) crisis. Much of the Council’s conversations centered around eastern CAR, where communities have experienced an […]