US on Ugandan LRA

By Steve Paterno

June 16, 2009 — For the last two decades, the ruthless Ugandan rebel, Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) has been causing havocs on civil populations. The magnitude of violence from this group extends into four countries of Uganda, Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo and Central African Republic to level that this ragtag outfit transcends into a regional security threat. However, of recent, the brutal activities of the LRA caught the attention of US public. This is discerned by wave of students’ activism from across the US, taking leads through grassroots campaigns in creating awareness of the dangers posed by LRA brutalities. For example, next week, an organized lobbying event by activist groups will bring to Washington, D.C. one of the largest gatherings of activists that will include high profile figures to call for an end to LRA violence. This event will undoubtedly impact US government views on LRA war and spur more public outcry on the appalling situation in the regions where the LRA operates.

The US Congress has already tabled landmark legislation, the LRA Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act. The legislation is to end LRA reign of terror by specifically targeting removal of LRA leaders from the bush, particularly Joseph Kony. According to Representative Ed Royce, who is a cosponsor of this legislation, the bill rightly targets Joseph Kony, because his “removal is essential to peace in the region.” The bill also calls for lasting and durable peace in Northern Uganda and the region through economic recovery efforts. Representative Jim McGovern, another cosponsor added that the bill will ensure that “the US steps up to aid communities affected by the most recent LRA attacks and assist in long-term recovery efforts in northern Uganda.”

Thus far, the proposed bill is moving through committees in both legislative chambers of Congress. With much pressure and lobbying efforts, the bill will most likely pass into law by this summer. Considerable number of human rights and faith based organizations from around the world fully endorse the bill. It enjoys a bipartisan support in Senate as well as in the House of Representative. Since its introduction, the legislation has attracted a number of cosponsors in Congress and the level of support it gets keep growing daily.

This is not the first time the US at a government level got involved in LRA issue. Last December, the US military, the AFRICOM, played a minimal advisory and logistical role in a botched up “Operation Lightening Thunder.” The joint operation aimed at dislodging the LRA once and for all, which was carried out by armies of Uganda, South Sudan, and Democratic Republic of Congo, resulted into appalling consequences for the civil populations. Since the operation was poorly planned, coordinated, and executed, the LRA fighters were able to melt away by splitting themselves into smaller units where they still inflict terror among the populations. They killed and continue to kill in thousands, burn down villages, kidnap more people and displace tens of thousands more from across the region.

Last year, under the US Treasury Department, Joseph Kony was placed on “specially designated global terrorists,” a label that carries severe financial penalties as well as banning others from cooperating with LRA. For a long time, the US State Department designated the LRA as a terrorist organization. However, the current proposed bill is yet the most ambitious and aggressive move the US will ever undertake in dealing with the LRA menace to ensure peace in the region disturbed by LRA. If the bill is passed into law in its current form, which is most likely, the live of Kony and his LRA outfit will hastily come to an end. Within 180 days of the enactment of this act, the President of the US Barack Obama will be required to submit strategic plans that guide US policies in the region by utilizing its elements of diplomacy, economic, intelligence, as well as military to ensure an end to LRA insurgency. Perhaps such critical US backing was a missing link in obtaining a lasting and durable peace in the region. Now, with the US getting fully engaged, the hopes of those who suffer under brutal LRA activities must once again be resurrected.

Steve Paterno is the author of The Rev. Fr. Saturnino Lohure, A Roman Catholic Priest Turned Rebel. He can be reached at [email protected]