LRA "resurgent" in Congo

Enough Project field researcher Ledio Cakaj has released two briefs documenting resurgent LRA violence against civilians in DR Congo and what needs to be done about them.

With the ongoing attacks taking place in extremely remote areas far from the limelight of media and international attention, grave atrocities are going unreported and unnoticed. Cakaj writes about one attack in December in which an estimated 300 villagers were abducted by the rebel group.

Cakaj continues:

These recent attacks are especially shocking in their brutality. No longer focused on just stealing food to survive, LRA forces in DRC appear to be attacking in order to terrorize the population and perhaps to send a message to the Congolese authorities who claim the LRA is finished. These ulterior goals may explain why the LRA has returned to using vile practices such as severe mutilations.

The first brief documents a number of the most recent LRA atrocities against Congolese civilians, while the second discusses how regional militaries, United Nations peacekeepers, and the United States can act to protect civilians from these attacks.

Reports of resurging LRA violence serve to underscore the urgency of our continued efforts to secure the passage of the LRA Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act in Congress to generate much-needed attention and resources.