Joseph Kony’s LRA

US Congress members sign 

anti-LRA letter to Obama

At least 95 members of the U.S. Congress have signed a letter to President Obama, urging him to sustain U.S efforts in supporting the anti-LRA military operation in central Africa.

Joseph Kony’s LRA has waged war in Uganda and the region for over two decades

This comes after the US Congress was considering a reduction in U.S efforts to address the LRA crisis due to financial constraints and the coup d’état in Central African Republic (CAR).

Kony and his commanders are wanted by the ICC for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Early this year, President Obama assented to an amended US law which places a cash reward for whoever arrests Kony and his top commanders.

“We believe it is important that the United States remain committed to working with regional forces to protect civilians until the LRA is defeated once and for all,” the letter to President Obama reads in part.

According to a statement released by an international NGO, Invisible Children, the letter will be delivered to President Obama this week, and is sponsored by US Representatives Jim McGovern and Ed Royce, and Senators Jim Inhofe and Mary Landrieu.

Last week, the international NGO Invisible Children petitioned the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) to intervene and stem the continued security threat posed by LRA to regional stability.

Invisible Children has also launched a campaign urging American activists to ask their legislators to sign the letter to President Obama, with a target of 100 signatures.

Under the campaign dubbed ZeroLRA, Invisible Children is seeking sustenance of support by the US government to the anti-LRA operations until the indicted LRA commanders are apprehended and no child is abducted.

The LRA was kicked out from Uganda by the UPDF five years ago. However, the LRA remains active in South Sudan, Central African Republic (CAR) and DR Congo.

Uganda leads an AU mandated regional taskforce comprising of the LRA affected countries to hunt for Kony and his commanders. In 2011, 100 U.S Special Forces were deployed to advise the regional taskforce.

However, following a coup d’état by Seleka rebels in CAR, the Regional Taskforce deployed against remnants of LRA in South Sudan and Central African Republic (CAR) has not carried out operations against the LRA.