Blog Updates and inspiration

In January of 2015, Dominic Ongwen, a former Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) commander indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC), surrendered in the Central African Republic. In the two years since he left the LRA, Ongwen has been transferred to the custody of the ICC in The Hague, where his trial began last December. Because […]

A project of Invisible Children and The Resolve LRA Crisis Initiative + ICC trial of former LRA commander Dominic Ongwen resumes this week + New research examines dramatic events surrounding Ongwen’s 2014 defection, which spurred creation of splinter LRA group operating independently of LRA leader Joseph Kony + Fracturing of LRA since 2014 has undermined […]

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, […]

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 […]

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 […]

For the past week, the world has watched as the trial of former LRA Commander, Dominic Ongwen moved forward with a confirmation of charges hearing. Below, our colleagues at the Enough Project provide helpful information on how these proceedings have developed and their significance both for LRA-affected communities and for the world of international criminal justice. In addition […]

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 […]

Since 1986, the LRA has been forcibly abducting people to join its ranks. But as support for the rebels quickly faded and the ranks of the LRA diminished, Kony started giving orders for his combatants to abduct children. But why did he decide that child soldiers were the best way to wage his war against the Ugandan government? […]

Last week, we were excited to report the Obama Administration’s announcement that three top LRA commanders — Joseph Kony, Okot Odhiambo, and Dominic Ongwen — were officially added to the State Department’s War Crimes Rewards Program. This enables the U.S. government to offer up to $5 million to anyone that provides information leading to the arrest or […]

As reported last week, the Ugandan military clashed with LRA forces led by ICC indictee Dominic Ongwen, freeing two LRA and capturing LRA supplies. Ongwen was not captured in the seizure, but weapons, equipment, ammunition and guns were recovered and the base he used as his headquarters was destroyed. And now new reports say that on […]