Our Agenda
For over two decades, the Lord's Resistance Army has terrorized communities in central Africa. Regional and international efforts to address the crisis -- often ill-informed and lacking serious political will -- have so far failed to secure a lasting peace for these communities. Informed advocacy can play a crucial role in spurring our leaders to overcome this legacy of neglect and securing lasting peace once and for all. To help accomplish this, we support U.S. policies that advance three primary policy goals to help affected communities:
1. Permanently ending the threat of LRA violence:
For many communities in Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, and Central African Republic, fear of LRA attacks and abductions remains a daily reality. Increased diplomatic leadership with regional and international partners can help permanently stop LRA violence by preventing further abductions, facilitating the rescue of the rebel group's abductees, and bringing the LRA's top commanders to justice for the crimes they have committed.
2. Addressing the effects of the crisis:
Hundreds of thousands of people have been forced by LRA attacks to flee their homes and remain vulnerable to further violence. Specific measures are needed to strengthen regional efforts to protect civilians from continuing LRA attacks, and to provide lifesaving humanitarian aid to communities displaced or otherwise affected by the conflict.
3. Prioritizing lasting peace:
The root causes of this conflict lie in weak governance and widespread poverty. By committing to address the longterm causes and consequences of this crisis, our leaders can help people impacted by the conflict rebuild their communities and ensure that further instability is prevented.
These three things can help end a crisis that is affecting millions of people across four central African countries. But our leaders only prioritize action on this issue when there is public will for them to do so. And that’s where you come in.
