U.S. Reps. McGovern, Fortenberry comment on efforts to combat LRA in Central Africa

Washington, DC, October 17, 2011

Fortenberry, McGovern Comment on White House LRA Announcement

Congressman Jeff Fortenberry and Congressman Jim McGovern today commented on the announcement from the White House this morning concerning the Department of Defense's new effort to combat the Lord's Resistance Army in central Africa.

-Through over 20 years of civil war, the brutal insurgency has created a humanitarian crisis that has displaced over 1.5 million people in one of the world's most difficult ungoverned spaces,- said Fortenberry. -Tens of thousands of children have been abducted, and many forced into child soldiering or sex slavery. The steps being taken by the Department of Defense today may help save innocent lives and begin to bring the LRA to justice for the immense human tragedy that has fallen across central Africa at its hands.-

-I'm very pleased with today's announcement,- said McGovern. -For far too long, innocents have suffered at the hands of the LRA. I also continue to call on the Administration to ensure the non-military assistance called for under the Comprehensive Strategy is provided for civilian protection; assistance for victims and communities of LRA-violence, especially children and women; and recovery and reconstruction."

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TEXT OF A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE - October 14, 2011

Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:) For more than two decades, the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) has murdered, raped, and kidnapped tens of thousands of men, women, and children in central Africa. The LRA continues to commit atrocities across the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and South Sudan that have a disproportionate impact on regional security. Since 2008, the United States has supported regional military efforts to pursue the LRA and protect local communities.

Even with some limited U.S. assistance, however, regional military efforts have thus far been unsuccessful in removing LRA leader Joseph Kony or his top commanders from the battlefield. In the Lord's Resistance Army Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act of 2009, Public Law 111-172, enacted May 24, 2010, the Congress also expressed support for increased, comprehensive U.S. efforts to help mitigate and eliminate the threat posed by the LRA to civilians and regional stability.

In furtherance of the Congress's stated policy, I have authorized a small number of combat-equipped U.S. forces to deploy to central Africa to provide assistance to regional forces that are working toward the removal of Joseph Kony from the battlefield. I believe that deploying these U.S. Armed Forces furthers U.S. national security interests and foreign policy and will be a significant contribution toward counter-LRA efforts in central Africa.

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Press Statement

Victoria Nuland
Department Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
October 14, 2011

The United States condemns the continued atrocities and abductions committed by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) across central Africa. We remain committed to supporting our regional partners' efforts to mitigate and eliminate the threat to civilians and regional stability posed by the LRA. Since 2008, the United States has provided over $40 million in critical logistical support, equipment and training to enhance counter-LRA operations by regional militaries. We continue to join regional governments in calling on LRA fighters to peacefully disarm and return home.

With the consent of the Government of Uganda, and as notified to Congress, the United States has sent a small number of U.S. military advisors to the region to assist the forces that are pursuing the LRA and seeking to bring top commanders to justice. These advisors will work with our regional partners and the African Union in the field to strengthen information-sharing, enhance coordination and planning, and improve the overall effectiveness of military operations and the protection of civilians. These advisors will not engage LRA forces unless necessary for self-defense.

This is one component of an ongoing, comprehensive U.S. strategy to address the LRA threat, in accordance with the LRA Disarmament and Northern Uganda Act signed into law in 2011. This strategy includes efforts to help increase the protection of civilians, encourage and facilitate defections of lower-level LRA fighters, and provide continued humanitarian relief.