Weekly Roundup for Dec. 20 - Jan. 2: Attacks cause "nightmare scenario" in Congo

January 5th, 2009 by paul in: Main Site, Update from HQ

The Good: The UN Security Council issued a statement strongly condemning LRA attacks in the DR Congo and South Sudan.

The Bad: The regional military offensive against the LRA has failed to capture top rebel leaders, rescue abducted children, or pressure rebel leaders to sign the final peace deal.

The Ugly: In retaliation for the offensive, LRA rebels have killed nearly 500 Congolese civilians since Christmas Eve.

Regional Security:

Military forces from Uganda, DR Congo and South Sudan continued a joint offensive on LRA bases in Congolese territory, launched on 14 December. Ugandan military officials claim that the offensive has been a "strategic" success by disrupting rebel food supplies and bases.

However, the offensive has so far failed to capture top LRA leaders or successfully pressure the rebels to sign the final peace deal. And though a handful of LRA abductees have been rescued, the offensive has killed others and put many women and children in LRA ranks in grave danger. The whereabouts of LRA leader Joseph Kony are unknown, with news reports placed him near Central African Republic or in South Sudan.

In retaliation for the attacks on their bases, LRA rebels have launched a series of raids on Congolese villages. Nearly 500 people have been killed and 200 abducted since Christmas Eve, while 30,000 people were displaced from the town of Faradje alone. In one attack LRA rebels allegedly used clubs and machetes to kill 45 Congolese civilians in a Catholic church during a Christmas celebration. LRA attacks have also been reported in South Sudan.

The fighting has made it extremely difficult for humanitarian groups to assist people displaced or wounded during the violence. The UN food agency also reported that a funding shortfall is slowing delivery of relief to communities affected by the most recent violence.

Situation in Northern Uganda

Some northern Ugandans living near the border with South Sudan are returning to displaced persons' camps for protection, fearing LRA attacks. Though no LRA movements towards northern Uganda have been reported, the LRA has historically responded to military offensives with retaliatory attacks on civilians. In 2002 an offensive by the Ugandan troops on LRA bases in South Sudan sparked some of the most brutal and far-reaching rebel attacks on communities in northern Uganda in the history of the war.

The UN food agency announced plans to cut in half the number of northern Ugandans who receive food aid, citing improved security in the region.

Refugee Law Project issued a new briefing paper examining challenges to the implementation of the Ugandan government's Peace, Recovery and Development Plan (PRDP) for war-affected regions in northern Uganda.

International Response:

The UN Security Council released a statement last week that condemned LRA atrocities in the DR Congo and South Sudan, as well as the LRA's refusal to sign the final peace deal with the Ugandan government. The statement also expressed support for the ongoing regional offensive against the rebels. UN chief Ban Ki-moon and the European Commission also released statements, both condemning the recent LRA attacks.

US officials initially demonstrated strong support for the joint regional offensive against the rebels, but have remained silent on the situation since then.