Blog Updates and inspiration

Last month, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs held a hearing to discuss U.S. interests in Africa and the ways in which the U.S. can play a role in stabilizing critical regions, including areas of central Africa where Invisible Children’s work takes place. At the hearing, investigative reporter Bryan Christy of National […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

A message from our CEO, Lisa Dougan: Today is a bittersweet day. Earlier this morning, our friends at The Resolve LRA Crisis Initiative announced that they will be closing their doors today. Please take a moment to read the message below from Resolve’s Director, Paul Ronan. Invisible Children has worked alongside Resolve for the past […]

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 […]

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 […]

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, […]

Ever wondered how our LRA Crisis Tracker works? Or about the people behind it? If so, you’re in luck: today we’re here with some answers! Meet Camille: Invisible Children’s Early Warning Network & LRA Crisis Tracker Project Officer. Camille works closely with Invisible Children’s teams in the Central African Republic (CAR) and the DR Congo […]