For Immediate Release: Resolve Uganda calls on Secretary Clinton to address LRA violence in upcoming trip to DR Congo
"Secretary Clinton is arriving at the doorstep of one of the world's most violent regions, and she has a unique opportunity to shine a light upon the unspeakable horrors being carried out against innocent civilians. More importantly, she also has an opportunity to outline how the US will help end the ongoing violence in eastern DR Congo, including in areas affected by the LRA," said Resolve Uganda Senior Policy Analyst Paul Ronan.
Secretary Clinton's visit to the DRC will include a visit to the Kivus region of eastern DR Congo, where she plans to highlight the impact of the sexual violence on communities there. The trip to the region also comes in the midst of an escalating humanitarian crisis in northeastern DR Congo, sparked by LRA leader Joseph Kony's refusal to sign a peace agreement with the Ugandan government and subsequent violent campaign against civilians in the DR Congo and the surrounding region.
"Six months into her tenure, Secretary Clinton has yet to demonstrate that ending these rebel atrocities and supporting lasting peace in areas affected by the LRA is a priority for the new Administration. With this trip, she has the chance to start a new chapter by committing the US to taking an active and comprehensive approach to addressing the conflict. Following her visit, the Secretary should make this commitment tangible by appointing a senior diplomat to spearhead US efforts to address LRA violence and coordinate them within initiatives to achieve peace in the broader Great Lakes region," said Ronan.
"In particular, increased US diplomatic engagement with regional governments and the international community can improve efforts to protect and assist civilians vulnerable to LRA raids. US leadership is also needed to help develop a viable, multilateral strategy to apprehend Joseph Kony in order to permanently stop LRA attacks, should he continue to refuse a negotiated solution."
To stress this point, 119 Members of Congress wrote to Secretary Clinton last month, urging her to increase US leadership toward ending the violence and protecting civilians under attack by the LRA. "We believe that ending this continued violence against civilians should be an urgent priority for the United States," wrote a bipartisan group of Representatives, including the Chair and Ranking Member of both the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Africa Subcommittee, in their letter to Secretary Clinton. "We urge you to devote US resources and diplomatic leadership to improve protection of civilians who are vulnerable to LRA attacks and to support viable efforts to apprehend Joseph Kony."
Regional
governments launched a military offensive with backing from the US
government against the LRA's bases in the DR Congo last December that
has failed to protect civilians from rebel attacks or apprehend Kony,
who is indicted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and
crimes against humanity. Following the offensive's launch, the rebel
leader dispatched his fighters to commit a new wave of brutal attacks
in the DR Congo and the surrounding region.
The United Nations estimates that over a thousand Congolese have been
killed by the LRA since last September, in addition to nearly 2,000
civilians, including hundreds of children, who have been abducted by
LRA fighters. Currently, 240,000 Congolese civilians are displaced by
LRA violence, over half of whom do not have access to humanitarian
assistance. Just last month, LRA fighters carried out nearly 60
separate attacks against innocent civilians in the Congo.
"Congressional leaders have made it clear that it's high time the US
move beyond supporting failed regional military offensives that worsen
the crisis and instead focus on solutions that can work," said Ronan.
"We hope that Secretary Clinton will take their words to heart and use
this trip to help make sure that Congolese children can sleep safely in
their beds at night."
Resolve Uganda is a U.S.-based coalition of humanitarian,
faith-based and advocacy organizations working to get U.S. political
leaders to take the steps that will permanently end the war in northern
Uganda. For more information, go to www.resolveuganda.org.
To access the full text of the Congressional letters to Secretary Clinton, go to http://www.resolveuganda.org/node/875