Blog Updates and inspiration

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 […]

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 […]

On July 11, 2010, 74 people were killed in a series of terrorist bombings in Kampala, Uganda.  One of those killed was an American named Nate Henn. He was our friend. Before his death, Nate had dedicated almost two years of his life as a volunteer roadie with Invisible Children. In the spring of 2010, Nate led a […]

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 […]

The Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) was responsible for 14 attacks in January 2017 in which they abducted 59 civilians, the highest monthly abduction total since September 2016. However, the 59 abductions in January 2017 was a sharp reduction compared to January 2016, when LRA forces abducted 171 civilians. Nearly all of the LRA’s January 2017 abductions took place in northern […]

On February 9th, a Congolese matriarch and hero, Bernadette Wilimangu, passed away. Bernadette, who had come to be known by her community as Mama Koko (which means great grandmother in Lingala) was a remarkably courageous and compassionate woman who helped carry her family and community in DR Congo through unimaginable violence at the hands of Joseph Kony’s LRA. Her life has inspired thousands around the world, including our Invisible Children team, to remain committed to ending the violence of armed groups like the LRA in central Africa.

Overview Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) forces abducted 25 civilians in 10 attacks in November, with a significant majority of abductions occurring in eastern Central African Republic (CAR). A series of clashes involving ex-Séléka factions in and near Bria, CAR, left at least 14 civilians dead in late November. Armed groups continued to be active in northern Democratic Republic of […]

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 […]

Every one of us shares the need to connect. But despite the fact that we’re living in one of the most globally connected times in history, we still struggle to transcend our day-to-day online interactions and develop strong, meaningful connections with others. During this time of year, we feel that struggle more than ever and […]

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, […]