Remembering our friend Arthur on #GivingTuesday
This #GivingTuesday, join us in celebrating Arthur, and the many Central Africans who are showing courage and making sacrifices to help their neighbors in times of need. Between now and November 27, we are raising funds to support the work of Central Africans like Arthur. HONOR ARTHUR WITH A #GIVINGTUESDAY DONATION Ten years ago, […]
Escaping LRA Captivity
On April 20, two boys and two girls who were being held captive by a group of Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) fighters escaped in the northeastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). As they fled, their captors shot at them, wounding one of the girls. The others managed to get away ending up […]
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 […]
Repost || The LRA is finally weakening in central Africa. Defection Messages could dismantle it.
Today, as the world watches the trial of former Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) commander, Dominic Ongwen, begin at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, the Washington Post has highlighted an important perspective on how LRA violence that continues in central Africa can be stopped. In an editorial published today, our friends and LRA experts, […]
When The Walking Defeats You // A Look Into the LRA
“Killing seemed normal, another act in the struggle to stay alive.” – When the Walking Defeats You At the top of our winter reading list this year is the recently released story of George Omona, a former member of Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). When The Walking Defeats You: One Man’s Journey as Joseph […]
5 Things You Didn’t Know About Community Defection Committees
At Invisible Children, we’re committed to ensuring community leadership is at the heart of all of our programs working to protect civilians from violence. A perfect illustration of this can be found in our Community Defection Committees (CDCs), which function alongside our Early Warning Network. Through locally-led workshops and an innovative Mobile Cinema program, LRA-affected […]
On the radar // 8 Released from the LRA
Late last month, Invisible Children received encouraging news from Kiliwa, DRC that eight individuals were released from LRA captivity. The incident: On August 21st, a group of fishermen were met by three armed LRA fighters just east of Kiliwa, DRC. The fishermen were led to the bush to meet with five women and three boys […]
Top LRA commander Dominic Ongwen in US custody in Central African Republic
An update on January 15th, 2015 from our Director of International Programs and Policy Advisor, Lisa Dougan:The U.S. military in Obo, Central African Republic (CAR), have handed Ongwen over the the African Union forces in Obo (aka the Ugandan military). It has been reported that Ongwen will be taken to the ICC for trial, with the […]
A Community Takes Charge of its Future in Mboki
Members of the Community Defection Committee (CDC) in Mboki, CAR, which was established by Invisible Children and community partner Vision Development, have been busy lately. On November 29th, they welcomed Guy Issa Parfait, a 19-year-old LRA escapee who had been held captive for over a year. Guy specifically asked Mbororo cattle herders in the area […]
KONY 101 // WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE LEAVE THE LRA?
We often talk about our defection programs because so many returnees cite our “Come Home” fliers or messages as the reason they chose to leave the bush. But what happens after these people return home? Unfortunately, there is a serious disparity in resources dedicated to the rehabilitation and reintegration of former LRA members. Depending on age, […]