Weekly Roundup for Jan 3-9: LRA rebels kidnap over 150 children as violence continue

In the midst of the increasingly disheartening news, our action becomes even more important. As you'll read below, the LRA crisis is continuing to deteriorate, with more abductions, attacks and displacement occurring throughout the region. But you can do more than just read about what's happening. You can do something to help. Will you take 30 seconds right now to send an email to your Member of Congress and ask them to take immediate action to protect the children caught in the crossfire of this conflict? What we do right now can shape the headlines we'll read in the weeks to come. Thank you, and onto the news....

The Good: The UN chief recommended that Joaquim Chissano, his special envoy for LRA-affected areas, continue his work to end the conflict for another year.

The Bad: LRA attacks on civilians in the DR Congo and South Sudan continued, while military forces remained unable of protecting communities from the rebel raids. 

The Ugly: The Ugandan government suspended a $600 million program to assist war-affected communities in northern Uganda.

Regional Security

• The Ugandan-led regional military offensive against the LRA continued into its third week. The operation has so far failed to capture top LRA leaders or result in significant defections from the rebel ranks, while also failing to protect communities in the region from retaliatory LRA attacks.

• LRA reprisal attacks on communities in DR Congo and South Sudan continued. As many as 500 people have been killed during brutal rebel raids on Congolese communities, while another 70,000 others have been forced to flee their homes.

• In the Congolese town of Faradje LRA rebels attacking on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day displaced 37,000 people and burned 800 houses. They also raped 80 women and kidnapped 225 people, including 160 children.

• A coalition of civil society organizations in Uganda issued a statement calling for a halt to the offensive against the rebels.

Situation in Northern Uganda

• The Ugandan government announced this week that it is suspending the $600 million Peace, Recovery, and Development Plan for war-affected communities in northern Uganda in order to improve budgeting and monitoring mechanisms. The plan, first launched over a year ago, has been plagued by poor coordination and lack of accountability and funds.

• Tensions in Uganda's West Nile region are high after rumors of an LRA recruitment drive spread among the population. Congolese officials also accused the Ugandan military of training Congolese rebel groups and allowing them safe harbor in the West Nile region.

• Two reporters from Uganda's largest independent newspaper were arrested last week and continue to be harassed by police after writing an article critical of the Ugandan military's role in the offensive against LRA rebels.

International Response

• US President George Bush met with South Sudan President Salva Kiir in Washington, DC this week, where the two leaders discussed the current crisis with the LRA.

• The UN Secretary-General requested that the UN Security Council renew for one year the mandate of his special envoy for LRA-affected areas, Joaquim Chissano. Chissano, formerly the president of Mozambique, has spearheaded the UN's efforts to bring an end to the conflict.

Before I go, I wanted to draw your attention to a new service we launched this week to help you be an even more effective advocate for the children caught in this war. Our new Congressional Scorecards are a reference you can use to see what your leaders have done (or not done) to help end this war and a great tool for holding them accountable. Check them out, and have a great weekend.

Thanks,
Paul Ronan
Senior Policy Analyst, Resolve Uganda