The Lord Resistance Army (LRA) rebels, led by Joseph Kony, began fighting the government of Uganda in 1986 and for over 20 years thousands of civilians have been killed, maimed or have been victim of countless atrocities and have had over 60,000 children abducted. In addition, up to 2 million have had to leave their home and village for safety. In 2006 after increased pressure from the Ugandan army, the LRA relocated to Democratic republic of Congo (DRC) and southern Sudan. In the beginning of 2008 there was hope that peace would come to the region with the signing of a peace agreement between the Ugandan government and the LRA but in May 2008, Joseph Kony backed out of the agreement and refused to sign. Since September 2008 until now the LRA is back to killing, maiming and abducting children in the DRC and southern Sudan.
In Christmas 2008 people were worshipping in church when the LRA came and refused to let them out as the building was set on fire. Over 100 people were killed.
According to a report I read in afrik.com the United Nations is stating that between the period of September 2008 and June 2009, at least 1200 people have been killed in the eastern province of the Congo, 1400 kidnapped and over 230,000 were driven from their homes because of the violence attributed to the rebels. They also report that earlier this month a remote village in the DRC was attacked with several people killed and some, mostly woman, had ears and mouths cut off by the rebels.
When will it end?
U.S. Senators Russ Feingold and Sam Brownback have introduced Senate bill 1067, the LRA Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act. The bill requires that the Obama administration develop a new multifaceted strategy to help bring an end to the LRA’s continued terror. It also authorizes funding to help secure lasting peace in northern Uganda and to those communities outside of Uganda that have been devastated by the LRA’s violence. As of this date it has 51 cosponsors. Senator Brownback said “there has not been this level of bipartisan sponsorship on Africa legislation for over three decades”. You can get more information concerning this bill and how you can get involved by visiting www.resolveuganda.org or www.enoughproject.org.
ECM is having a special prayer request this month, Prayer for the Dark Places 2010. There are four groups, which all effect the ministries of ECM, that they are asking for prayer. One of those groups is for the LRA. How quickly this war could end if Joseph Kony or his top commanders would open their hearts and receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Some of the things that are in the ECM prayer guide you could pray about are:
* conversion of Joseph Kony, Deputy Commander Okot Odhiambo and Dominic Ongwena, lead strategist for the LRA
* pray that their strategies may be confounded so that innocent lives may be protected and so that they may understand they are dealing with a Higher Power than that of the spirits they serve.
* pray for the healing of children and youth whose souls were damaged by the inhuman acts they were forced to perform or participate in.
I would like to encourage you to contact ECM for a complete copy of Prayer for the Dark Places by sending an email to lorella@ecmafrica.org.
It’s great to have the power of the U.S. government getting involved in stopping the LRA but we serve a powerful God and all the governments in the world can’t do what God alone can do. So let’s get on our knees in prayer for the people of Uganda, DRC, and Sudan and yes, for the LRA.
For and in-depth look at Kony and the LRA, see the book, First Kill Your Family: Child Soldiers of Uganda and the Lord’s Resistance Army.