UPDATE: Catching the bad guy
On Wednesday, the Foreign Relations Committee unanimously passed the Senate version of the Rewards for Justice update bill (S.2318). You made this possible with your phone calls to U.S. Senators. You’re proving time and again that every voice matters. From here the full Senate still has to vote on the bill, so we’re not done […]
Supporting students in community affected by LRA
Invisible Children supported a new school in Dungu this month with tools and equipment, giving students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a variety of trades. Dungu has been hit hard by the affects of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and has a large population of displaced people, placing an intense strain on already […]
UPDATE: LRA reportedly abduct 55 in Central African Republic
UPDATE — On September 10, nine days after the reported abduction of 55 people in CAR, it has been confirmed that 53 of those people were released from LRA captivity. A fact-finding mission organized by local authorities confirmed both the initial abduction and the report of the 53 released victims. The two abductees who did […]
Abbé Benoit celebrated for Human Rights Award
Human Rights Watch recently awarded Abbé Benoit Kinalegu with the Alison Des Forges Award “for his commitment to protecting civilians and ending the threat posed by the LRA.” On August 18th, the community of Dungu and Human Rights Watch recognized his advocacy work on behalf of vulnerable populations affected by the LRA. Several community members and […]
UPDATE: on Dominic Ongwen’s trail
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 […]
Two LRA rescued by Ugandan military
On Friday, August 24th, Ugandan military clashed with LRA forces led by ICC indictee Dominic Ongwen, freeing two LRA and capturing LRA supplies. Via NewVision: The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has captured ammunition and household equipment in a fresh attack on Joseph Kony’s LRA rebels in the Central African Republic (CAR). The UPDF also rescued […]
safe ha·ven: A place of refuge or security
Today, the Enough Project released its latest issue brief and map illustrating access that troops pursuing the Lord’s Resistance Army have in the region. The publication details the issue of LRA safe havens in Congo, the Central African Republic, and Sudan and offers solutions for battling this continuing problem. In all three countries, the existence […]
The decision to escape
Invisible Children works with six FM radios in the LRA-affected regions to encourage LRA surrenders through “Come Home” messaging. This messaging has been proven effective. In a study done by Conciliation Resources, an international peace-building NGO, 89% of the ex-LRA interviewed cited “Come Home” radio messages as having the most influence on their decision to […]
Legacy Scholarship: Papito’s Pigs
During the period when LRA attacks were still intense in northern Uganda, many businesses came to a standstill. Ayen Rose’s business that she had started between 1999 and 2000 to raise pigs was among the unlucky businesses that did not survive the war. Forced to resettle in one of the Internal Displacement Camps, Ayen Rose […]
On location: FM projects in Central Africa
Invisible Children supports FM radios across LRA affected areas in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Central African Republic (CAR) and South Sudan. In addition to playing music, cultural and other community programs, these radios also broadcast “come home” messages encouraging LRA combatants to surrender. Last week I traveled to Bas-Uele, DRC, a densely forested […]