LRA rebels increase attacks in Central African republic

By Godfrey Olukya 11-10-2012

Reports from Central African republic and Democratic republic of Congo indicate that Lords Resistance Army (LRA) rebels have intensified in their attacks on civilians.

The rebels who are being pursued by a joint force of soldiers from Central African Republic, South Sudan, Democratic republic of Congo and Uganda are reportedly attacking homes for food and hospitals for medicine.

‘They have been making attacks on homes.’ said Central African republic army officer, Balingo Sisolo. ‘They move in small numbers and
attack villages where they loot food,goats and chicken.’

He said that the joint force has in the past few months killed several rebels and captured at least 20 of them.

Sisolo’s observation is confirmed by a new report released jointly by two International non-governmental organizations,’Invisible Children’ and ‘Resolve’ which indicated that the number of attacks by rebels of the Lord’s Resistance Army doubled in the first half of 2012, compared to the same period last year.

According to the report, there were 155 attacks cited in the northern Democratic Republic of Congo, mostly to the west and south of Garamba National Park.

It also indicates that LRA attacks increased significantly in south east Central African Republic (CAR), with 35 attacks in the first half
of 2012, compared to the same time last year.

Joseph Kony, the leader of the rebels has not been seen even by his commanders for over a year. Although he could be hiding in the
forests, there are reports that he could have escaped to Darfur in Sudan.

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