DRC: Lord’s Resistance Army increases attacks

Event

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) published a report on Friday, June 16, warning that the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) has increased attacks in the DRC in recent months. According to the report, around 40 LRA fighters kidnapped 61 civilians in a raid on the Tanganyika mining area near the Garamba National Park in Haut-Uele province on June 7. The civilians were released after being forced to move supplies looted by the militants. According to Moussa Faki Mahamat, the chairman of the African Union, as of June 6 the LRA had abducted over 700 people and displaced hundreds of civilians this year.

Context

The UN report said that the attacks have stepped up since the withdrawal of the regional task force supported by the United States in the beginning of May. US Special Forces had been operating in the area since 2011, working with regional forces to hunt down the LRA and their leader Joseph Kony.

Advice

Individuals in the DRC are advised to exercise caution and maintain a low profile at all times. For various security reasons, a number of Western governments advise their citizens against travel to the east and northeast of the country.