International Leadership Urgently Needed to Protect Children During Ongoing Military Efforts Against LRA Rebels
(WASHINGTON, DC, 16 December 2008) – As a major offensive conducted by regional militaries against the Ugandan Lord's Resistance Army rebels unfolds in the Democratic Republic of Congo, U.S.-based Resolve Uganda is today calling for the international community to act decisively to ensure that operations are targeted only at LRA leaders and take all possible precautions to protect civilians and LRA captives from violence.
The call comes as the United Nations Security Council prepares for a briefing this week by Joaquim Chissano, the UN envoy to regions affected by the rebels.
"It's a truly tragic situation. While countries in the region cannot sit by as the LRA violently abducts children and terrorizes communities, we must not forget that this is an army comprised primarily of children being held against their will whose lives also hang in the balance," said Michael Poffenberger, Resolve Uganda Executive Director.
It is unclear what impact the ongoing military offensive will have on LRA forces or the fragile humanitarian situation in the region. There is also growing concern that measures to facilitate the escape or rescue of LRA abductees are inadequate.
"Historically, many LRA captives escape during battle, but at the moment very little is being done to help make this happen. UN forces in Sudan and the DR Congo should take immediate action to encourage and facilitate the defection of LRA captives, including creating reception centers for any escapees. Such efforts would save lives and weaken the LRA," said Paul Ronan, Resolve Uganda Senior Policy Analyst.
The armies of Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan launched the joint military offensive on December 14.
"The LRA's biggest weakness is its total reliance on its leader, Joseph Kony. If he can be apprehended, LRA violence in the region would likely be ended," said Ronan. "The international community has the capacity to make sure this happens, but is instead sitting on the sidelines as poorly trained and equipped regional forces mount an all-out offensive that will result in lives being lost unnecessarily."
The situation has escalated in recent months after two years of peace negotiations broke down and the rebel group resumed attacks on civilian communities in the DR Congo and South Sudan, displacing close to 100,000 people and abducting hundreds of children.
Noting the increasing urgency of the situation, the organization called on UN Security Council members to act swiftly to ensure protection of vulnerable civilians, apprehension of LRA leaders indicted by the International Criminal Court, and the safe demobilization of children abducted into LRA ranks.
"The Security Council should issue a clear statement following Chissano's briefing which condemns recent LRA atrocities and charts a clear path forward to end this crisis. Targeted efforts to apprehend rebel leaders indicted by the ICC should be supported by the Council, while the possibility of a negotiated solution should be left on the table," said Ronan.
Resolve Uganda also noted the continued importance of UN diplomatic leadership.
Ronan added, "The increased attention paid to this crisis in the past few years has greatly improved prospects for an end to the violence. If Secretary-General Ban opts not to renew the mandate of his envoy for LRA-affected areas, he should make clear that other high-level UN diplomats assigned to the region will continue to help coordinate action to put a stop to LRA crimes."
Background Information:
The war between the rebel LRA and Ugandan government began in 1986, and has been characterized by widespread abuse of human rights by both sides. Thousands of people have been killed during the war, and tens of thousands abducted by the LRA and exploited as child soldiers and sex slaves.
The recent Juba peace negotiations between the LRA and Ugandan government began in August 2006 and broke down this year with rebel leader Joseph Kony refusing to sign the final agreement negotiated on his behalf, opting instead to resume attacks on civilians in the region. The governments of Uganda, DR Congo, and South Sudan agreed in June 2008 to take joint military action against the LRA if they refused to sign the peace agreement.
LRA forces moved their base of operations to the eastern DR Congo in 2005, from where they have pillaged communities and abducted children in DR Congo, South Sudan, and Central African Republic. There are outstanding warrants for the arrest of Kony and two of his top commanders, issued by the International Criminal Court in 2005.
The call comes as the United Nations Security Council prepares for a briefing this week by Joaquim Chissano, the UN envoy to regions affected by the rebels.
"It's a truly tragic situation. While countries in the region cannot sit by as the LRA violently abducts children and terrorizes communities, we must not forget that this is an army comprised primarily of children being held against their will whose lives also hang in the balance," said Michael Poffenberger, Resolve Uganda Executive Director.
It is unclear what impact the ongoing military offensive will have on LRA forces or the fragile humanitarian situation in the region. There is also growing concern that measures to facilitate the escape or rescue of LRA abductees are inadequate.
"Historically, many LRA captives escape during battle, but at the moment very little is being done to help make this happen. UN forces in Sudan and the DR Congo should take immediate action to encourage and facilitate the defection of LRA captives, including creating reception centers for any escapees. Such efforts would save lives and weaken the LRA," said Paul Ronan, Resolve Uganda Senior Policy Analyst.
The armies of Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan launched the joint military offensive on December 14.
"The LRA's biggest weakness is its total reliance on its leader, Joseph Kony. If he can be apprehended, LRA violence in the region would likely be ended," said Ronan. "The international community has the capacity to make sure this happens, but is instead sitting on the sidelines as poorly trained and equipped regional forces mount an all-out offensive that will result in lives being lost unnecessarily."
The situation has escalated in recent months after two years of peace negotiations broke down and the rebel group resumed attacks on civilian communities in the DR Congo and South Sudan, displacing close to 100,000 people and abducting hundreds of children.
Noting the increasing urgency of the situation, the organization called on UN Security Council members to act swiftly to ensure protection of vulnerable civilians, apprehension of LRA leaders indicted by the International Criminal Court, and the safe demobilization of children abducted into LRA ranks.
"The Security Council should issue a clear statement following Chissano's briefing which condemns recent LRA atrocities and charts a clear path forward to end this crisis. Targeted efforts to apprehend rebel leaders indicted by the ICC should be supported by the Council, while the possibility of a negotiated solution should be left on the table," said Ronan.
Resolve Uganda also noted the continued importance of UN diplomatic leadership.
Ronan added, "The increased attention paid to this crisis in the past few years has greatly improved prospects for an end to the violence. If Secretary-General Ban opts not to renew the mandate of his envoy for LRA-affected areas, he should make clear that other high-level UN diplomats assigned to the region will continue to help coordinate action to put a stop to LRA crimes."
Background Information:
The war between the rebel LRA and Ugandan government began in 1986, and has been characterized by widespread abuse of human rights by both sides. Thousands of people have been killed during the war, and tens of thousands abducted by the LRA and exploited as child soldiers and sex slaves.
The recent Juba peace negotiations between the LRA and Ugandan government began in August 2006 and broke down this year with rebel leader Joseph Kony refusing to sign the final agreement negotiated on his behalf, opting instead to resume attacks on civilians in the region. The governments of Uganda, DR Congo, and South Sudan agreed in June 2008 to take joint military action against the LRA if they refused to sign the peace agreement.
LRA forces moved their base of operations to the eastern DR Congo in 2005, from where they have pillaged communities and abducted children in DR Congo, South Sudan, and Central African Republic. There are outstanding warrants for the arrest of Kony and two of his top commanders, issued by the International Criminal Court in 2005.