Invisible Children and the LRA

Invisible Children and the Lord’s Resistance Army

When discussing the changes of war in class, one of the main points of discussion was the destruction of nuclear presence in countries across the world and a shift in the types of war that the world presently faces today. Although there is a large focus on newer types of more dangerous warfare, such as cyber warfare, there is little attention on the Lord’s Resistance Army’s use of children as soldiers. These children, skillfully manipulated by the LRA leader Joseph Cony to fight as his soldiers, have been hidden from communities across the globe. The existence of the Invisible Children, and the LRA, bring light to the similarities and differences of war today in comparison of that in the past.

After the decolonization of Africa, several failed presidencies destroyed the already unstable Uganda. Through corruption and violence, rebel groups formed across Uganda that worked to overthrow several presidents. “The indifference and failure of successive governments to create a unified nation contributed to northern Uganda’s instability, setting the stage for further rebellions and insurgencies” (Chatlani). One of these groups, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) began spreading across Uganda, with a mission that “seeks to destabilize and overthrow the government of Uganda” (Terrorist). “Formed in 1992 in an attempt to unify a resistance movement fractured by the marginalization of the Uganda Democratic Christian Army, the group promotes a radical form of Christianity which it wants to make the foundation of a new Ugandan government” (Terrorist). “For the past 23 years, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and the Government of Uganda (GoU) have been waging a war that has left nearly two million innocent civilians caught in the middle” (Imvisible). Due to its lack of support by the Ugandan people, Joseph Cony, leader of the LRA, began attacking villages in Uganda that he feared conspired against him. “In 1996, as a response to the LRA attacks in the villages, the Ugandan government forcibly evicted thousands from their homes, relocating them into overcrowded camps in hopes of providing protection” (Invisible).

“Rape, torture, and murder have become the group's hallmarks in the almost fifteen years that they have terrorized the citizens of Northern Uganda” (Terrorist). Perhaps most astonishing atrocity is the LRA’s frequent kidnapping of Ugandan children to serve as child soldiers and sex slaves” (Chatlani). “Child abductees are immediately taught to fight, kill, and steal for the LRA, and are forced to participate in the abduction of other children” (Chatlani). Cony’s legacy is not for his success as an insurgent, but as a cruel individual that has instrumented the use of children to fight for him and his ideals.

The war in Uganda is similar to guerilla and civil wars of the past, yet it is quite different as well. Yes, there are guns, deaths and terror, but there are many hidden aspects to the destruction in Uganda. Although one would argue that this war boasts the same violence and corruption as that of the civil wars in Latin America, there is one key difference, the use of children. Perhaps children have been used in one way or another to contribute to wars in the past, but Cony has created a new aspect of this phenomenon. Not only are these children victims of rape by Cony’s soldiers, but they essentially make up the entire LRA. “Reports estimate that the LRA currently consists of approximately two hundred armed commanders and three thousand child soldiers” (Chatlani). This is definitely a new type of war that has only become publicized in the last decade. The ability to brainwash and manipulate these children, as well as their easy accessibility and abundance made it the ideal situation for Cony to create this new type of military, and is definitely a new type of warfare.

Refugees and children who have not yet been captured by Cony, “walk miles into town to sleep in verandas or shelters to escape LRA attacks” (Chatlani). Their label as ‘Invisible Children’ does absolute justice to the portray atrocities that Cony and the international community have done to these children. It is interesting that, in an age of technological advances, it took up until less than ten years ago for a few teenagers to inform the world of the violence that was being spread by Cony Why, in a time in which it is easiest to spread news about such horrific events, did it take so long for the injustices of Cony take so long to spark interest in the lives of the American people and countries across the world? Cony is brutally attacking the lives of countless children, who, as soon as they are abducted, have their childhood taken from them forever. Significantly.

Furthermore, terrorism is defined as “the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, especially for political purposes” (Dictionary). In this case, along with the definitions that we discussed in class, Joseph Cony is clearly a terrorist. Cony’s lack of opposition has allowed him to continue his influence into other countries in South Africa. It is interesting that the U.S. and the UN have done little to stop someone that is most definitely a terrorist. The little action that they took in the past has allowed Cony’s terrorism to impact Ugandans

In a response to Cony’s actions, the UN has deployed peacekeepers across Uganda to help protect the thousands of child refugees. Despite the involvement of the UN, their success in Uganda and in helping to fight the war against war in Uganda should be brought into question. If the UN can’t even be used as a way to prevent wars that threaten countless individuals, especially children, how can they be noted as a way that the world is winning a war against war?

Moreover, the lack of response by outsiders shows stark contrast to the willingness of the American people to oppose the injustices of Hitler and the Nazis in WWII. Perhaps, people are now hesitant to directly involve themselves in current world issues because they do not want to face the consequences of the wars of the past. However, in the past few weeks, after years of pressure by the Invisible Children organization and other contributors, President Obama finally “authorized a small number of combat-equipped US forces to deploy to central Africa to provide assistance to regional forces that are working toward the removal of (LRA leader) Joseph Kony from the battlefield” (BBC). Perhaps this action will end the reign of Joseph Cony, but the affects of his regime will leave a mark on the lives of thousands of Ugandans for decades.

Works Cited

"BBC News - US to Send Troops to Uganda to Help Fight LRA Rebels." BBC - Homepage. Web. 21 Oct. 2011. .

Boustany, Nora. "Ugandan Rebel Reaches Out to International Court." The Washington Post: National, World & D.C. Area News and Headlines - The Washington Post. Web. 21 Oct. 2011. .

Chatlani, Hema. "Uganda: A Nation in Crisis." California Western. Web. 20 Oct. 2011. .

"Invisible Children - History of the Conflict." Invisible Children - Home. Web. 20 Oct. 2011. .

"Terrorist Organization Profile - START - National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism." Home - START - National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism. Web. 20 Oct. 2011. .

“Terrorismm” Web. 21 Oct. 2011. www.dictionary.com