This crisis deals with the Invisible Children of Africa, ravaged by war and starvation. In 1986, the President of Uganda, Tito Okello, an ethnic Acholi was overthrown by the NRA (National Resistance Army) led by present-day President Museveni. As Acholi’s, the dominant ethnicity in Northern Uganda, became fearful of their weakening political strength, many rebellion groups formed in order to maintain their strength and prevent any actions of retribution.
One of more successful rebel groups was lead by a radical man by the name of Joseph Kony whose extreme spiritual ideals roused fellow Acholi’s and whose guerilla warfare tactics seemed to terrify many into believing in his cause for fear of torture. Kony’s LRA (Lord’s Resistance Army), gained support in the beginning, especially from the rebel government in southern Sudan, the Khartoum Government which began to supply arms, soldiers, military tactics, and money to the rebel group of northern Uganda.
However, President Museveni was becoming as strong as ever and Joseph Kony and his Acholi followers started feeling weaker than ever. The LRA started instigating a method of killing fathers and mothers and kidnapping the children in small villages. Kony’s followers would target families of children primarily ages 7-14 as these are the most malleable ages. Kony and his commanders taught these children murder, death, extreme religious doctrines, and kill-or-be-killed techniques so as to start what many would hear in the media as a “Child Army”.
One of more successful rebel groups was lead by a radical man by the name of Joseph Kony whose extreme spiritual ideals roused fellow Acholi’s and whose guerilla warfare tactics seemed to terrify many into believing in his cause for fear of torture. Kony’s LRA (Lord’s Resistance Army), gained support in the beginning, especially from the rebel government in southern Sudan, the Khartoum Government which began to supply arms, soldiers, military tactics, and money to the rebel group of northern Uganda.
However, President Museveni was becoming as strong as ever and Joseph Kony and his Acholi followers started feeling weaker than ever. The LRA started instigating a method of killing fathers and mothers and kidnapping the children in small villages. Kony’s followers would target families of children primarily ages 7-14 as these are the most malleable ages. Kony and his commanders taught these children murder, death, extreme religious doctrines, and kill-or-be-killed techniques so as to start what many would hear in the media as a “Child Army”.
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Sense Making: Joseph Kony’s rebel group, the Lord’s Resistance Army, has been receiving aid from the rebel Khartoum government of southern Sudan, terrorizing the bush, and kidnapping children for his “Child Army” for nearly 21 years. This has lead to what is now called the “Night Commuters” and “Invisible Children”. These night commuters, usually children ages 5-15, walk miles each night to sleep in a barracks guarded most likely by only one guard. They rise every morning to walk back to their villages just to keep themselves as well as their families safe. Peace talks in 1994 between Joseph Kony and Minister Betty Bigombe failed miserably and in 1996 the LRA hostilities against un-cooperative Acholi families and children escalated to a dangerous level. The government of Uganda realized peace talks were necessary and with the questionable interference by the ICC (International Criminal Court) in 2005, Kony and his followers continued the violence in fear of their safety, well-being, and lives. Basically running from the ICC and the Uganda government in lieu of talking of peace. Finally, in June 2006, the Vice President of Southern Sudan, Riek Machar, agreed to be a mediator AND ignore the ICC’s requests. This brought Acholiland one more step towards peace. Both players now had no excuse no to participate in negotiations and reach peace.
Decision Making: Since July 2006 the Ugandan government and LRA leaders have met in a series of ongoing talks mediated by the Vice President of Southern Sudan, Riek Machar. President Museveni proclaimed that if the hostilities ceased, he would grant Kony the safety he desired from the ICC. In early August, one of Kony’s military leaders whose sights were directly focused on peace since 2005, Vincent Otti, declared a unilateral ceasefire and asked the Uganda government to comply with his request. Another one of Kony’s LRA commanders Raska Lukwiya was killed in a battle on August 12, 2006. (Directly after Otti’s plea for a unilateral ceasefire.) On August 26, 2006 a treaty was signed. It stated that the LRA would leave Uganda and that the government of Uganda would not attack the LRA while they dismantled.
Sense Making: Joseph Kony’s rebel group, the Lord’s Resistance Army, has been receiving aid from the rebel Khartoum government of southern Sudan, terrorizing the bush, and kidnapping children for his “Child Army” for nearly 21 years. This has lead to what is now called the “Night Commuters” and “Invisible Children”. These night commuters, usually children ages 5-15, walk miles each night to sleep in a barracks guarded most likely by only one guard. They rise every morning to walk back to their villages just to keep themselves as well as their families safe. Peace talks in 1994 between Joseph Kony and Minister Betty Bigombe failed miserably and in 1996 the LRA hostilities against un-cooperative Acholi families and children escalated to a dangerous level. The government of Uganda realized peace talks were necessary and with the questionable interference by the ICC (International Criminal Court) in 2005, Kony and his followers continued the violence in fear of their safety, well-being, and lives. Basically running from the ICC and the Uganda government in lieu of talking of peace. Finally, in June 2006, the Vice President of Southern Sudan, Riek Machar, agreed to be a mediator AND ignore the ICC’s requests. This brought Acholiland one more step towards peace. Both players now had no excuse no to participate in negotiations and reach peace.
Decision Making: Since July 2006 the Ugandan government and LRA leaders have met in a series of ongoing talks mediated by the Vice President of Southern Sudan, Riek Machar. President Museveni proclaimed that if the hostilities ceased, he would grant Kony the safety he desired from the ICC. In early August, one of Kony’s military leaders whose sights were directly focused on peace since 2005, Vincent Otti, declared a unilateral ceasefire and asked the Uganda government to comply with his request. Another one of Kony’s LRA commanders Raska Lukwiya was killed in a battle on August 12, 2006. (Directly after Otti’s plea for a unilateral ceasefire.) On August 26, 2006 a treaty was signed. It stated that the LRA would leave Uganda and that the government of Uganda would not attack the LRA while they dismantled.
References: Allen, Tim. Wikipedia, Lord's Resistance Army http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord 23 January 2008
Boin , A., t'Hart, P., Stern, E. and Sundelius, B. The Politics of Crisis Management: Public Leadership under Pressure. First edition. Cambridge University Press, 2005.
http://www.invisiblechildren.com/home.php Invisible Children Website
