The LRA poaches elephants to survive
Every day, an estimated 96 elephants are killed throughout Africa; this amounts to nearly 230,000 in the last 5 years. It is unlikely that African elephants will survive if the slaughter continues. The ivory trade is a devastating problem, and it also gives Joseph Kony’s forces the means to continue attacking innocent communities. How the […]
ON THE RADAR // Two Motorcyclists Attacked by Suspected LRA
Over the past few weeks, the situation in LRA-affected areas has been relatively calm. Despite a recent resurgence of violence in the south of the Central African Republic (CAR), there have not been as many reported incidents, looting or attacks in the northern part of the country. While this is a welcome respite for the […]
Out of Alibis: Now is the Time to End the LRA Conflict for Good
For the last 10 years, Joseph Kony has not been an easy man to find. He has crisscrossed thousands of miles of central African wilderness on foot, managing to elude persistent military pursuit and an indictment issued by the International Criminal Court. That is why, in light of the recent LRA Crisis Tracker report placing […]
KONY 101 // DOES THE LRA HAVE ANY ALLIES?
Joseph Kony has been spreading terror across East and central Africa for 27 years; nine years ago, the International Criminal Court indicted him for his crimes, making him one of the most wanted men on the planet. Since then, the LRA has been able to hide and survive in some of the remotest parts of […]
Kony 101 // What are some lesser-known consequences of the LRA?
In addition to the constant threat of attack and abduction, the LRA has presented vulnerable communities in central Africa with numerous institutional challenges. In recent years, the LRA’s survival strategies have shifted towards looting and stealing crops – threatening these communities’ food security on a huge scale. In fact, one of the worst consequences of the LRA’s […]
Reblog // New Statesman: Kony is Africa’s Forgotten Scourge
“The conflict in northern Uganda is the biggest forgotten, neglected humanitarian emergency in the world today.” –Jan Egeland, former Under-Secretary-General of the UN During Kony 2012, we made Joseph Kony a household name and brought international attention to the atrocities committed by the Lord’s Resistance Army. Since that time, much of the hype and media attention […]
Reblog // Army: Messaging leads to mass defections from Kony
October 2014 Over the summer, defections and releases from the LRA skyrocketed. Almost 100 men, women and children returned home – the most we’ve seen since we expanded our central Africa programs in 2008. The “why” behind those incredible numbers? Successful defection messaging, according to a recent article from Army Times. And we have to agree. […]
Welcome Home // Released women and children return to Uganda
What gets us more excited than free Halloween candy? Well, unlimited free Halloween candy… and inspiring updates from our International Programs team. In case you missed it… Over the summer, we saw an unprecedented increase in LRA defections and releases. Since August, around 100 individuals have returned home from the LRA. Whether they were released or […]
Kony 101 // Who is in charge of the LRA?
The LRA conflict has wreaked havoc on central and East Africa for 27 years, leaving communities in desperate need of protection and rehabilitation. Throughout this time, the rebel group’s tactics have remained brutal and atrocious – children are forced to kill members of their own families and become soldiers (or even sex slaves). In recent […]
Kony 101 // Why is he fighting?
The Lord’s Resistance Army is one of the most vicious rebel groups on this planet today. Its leader, Joseph Kony, instructs his fighters to abduct young men and women to fight in their ranks, loot and ravage innocent communities for food and clothing, and hold women and children hostage as sex slaves and porters. Joseph Kony […]