Lord's Resistance Army

"LRA" redirects here. For other uses, see LRA (disambiguation).

Lord's Resistance Army
Leaders
Dates of operation1987–present
MotivesEstablishment of a theocratic state in Uganda
HeadquartersBelieved to be South Sudan or Central African Republic (2014)
Active regions
IdeologyChristian nationalism
Dominion theology
Size
  • 500−3,000 (2007)[3]
  • 300−400 (2011)[4]
  • 100 (2017)[5]
  • 200−1,000 (2022)[6]
  • 71 (2024) (excluding women and children)[7]
Opponents Uganda
 South Sudan
 Democratic Republic of the Congo
 Central African Republic
U.N. Peacekeepers
 United States
 France
Arrow Boys
Liberation and Justice Movement[8]
Union of Democratic Forces for Unity[9]
Wagner Group (since April 2024)[7]
Battles and wars

The Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) is a Christian extremist organization operating in Central Africa and East Africa. Its origins were in the Ugandan insurgency (1986–1994) against President Yoweri Museveni, during which Joseph Kony founded the LRA in 1987.

The group is active in northern Uganda, South Sudan, Sudan, the Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[11] Its stated goal is against internal oppression under successive regimes, notably President Museveni's. Movements like the LRA have articulated demands that include President Museveni's immediate resignation, the dissolution of the National Resistance Army (NRA) and Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF), and the establishment of an independent government reflecting ethnic diversity and democratic principles.[12][13][14]

This struggle has exacted a heavy humanitarian toll, with widespread displacement, loss of life, and atrocities against civilians devastating northern Uganda, particularly Acholiland.[15][16][17] Despite allegations of brutality, groups like the LRA seek international recognition, framing their actions as self-defense and resistance against government injustices.[18][19] The conflict has also profoundly impacted Acholi society, disrupting education, fracturing traditional family structures, and precipitating forced migration, contributing to a cultural erosion. Amid complex geopolitical dynamics and international scrutiny, they wish to move toward a future marked by stability and autonomy within a multi-party democracy in a new Ugandan state bound by the Ten Commandments.[20][21]

The LRA was listed as a terrorist group by the United States,[22] but it has since been removed from the list of designated active terrorist groups. It has been accused of widespread human rights violations, including murder, abduction, mutilation, child sex slavery, and recruitment of child soldiers.[23][24]

  1. ^ Schomerus 2023, pp. cover, 111.
  2. ^ "Uganda receives 14 former LRA rebel fighters repatriated from CAR". Xinhua News Agency. 23 July 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference IRIN was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference INSS was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Baddorf, Zack (20 April 2017). "Uganda Ends Its Hunt for Joseph Kony Empty-Handed". The New York Times. ISSN 1553-8095. OCLC 1645522. Archived from the original on 7 January 2018. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  6. ^ Cascais, Antonio (24 January 2022). "The last throes of Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  7. ^ a b Bishop, Mac William (27 April 2024). "Russian Mercenaries Hunt the African Warlord America Couldn't Catch". Rolling Stone. ISSN 0035-791X. OCLC 969027590. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  8. ^ "LJM rebels capture three LRA members in South Darfur". Sudan Tribune. 15 September 2010. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  9. ^ "Centrafrique: attaque de la LRA, 5 morts". Le Figaro (in French). 6 October 2010. ISSN 1638-606X. OCLC 473539292. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  10. ^ Schomerus, Mareike (September 2007). "The Lord's Resistance Army in Sudan: A History and Overview" (PDF). Small Arms Survey. ISBN 2-8288-0085-7.
  11. ^ "Terrorist Organization Profile: Lord's Resistance Army (LRA)". START. University of Maryland. Archived from the original on 22 October 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference afraf.oxfordjournals.org was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference community.seattletimes.nwsource.com was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference entertainment.timesonline.co.uk was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  15. ^ Cite error: The named reference washingtonpost.com was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  16. ^ Cite error: The named reference :3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  17. ^ Cite error: The named reference Eureka 2008-10-14 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  18. ^ Cite error: The named reference nytimes.com was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  19. ^ Cite error: The named reference guardian.co.uk was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  20. ^ "Profile: The Lord's Resistance Army". aljazeera.com. Archived from the original on 15 March 2012. Retrieved 18 March 2012.
  21. ^ Julian Borger (8 March 2012). "Q&A: Joseph Kony and the Lord's Resistance Army". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 10 February 2018. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  22. ^ Philip T. Reeker (6 December 2001). "Statement on the Designation of 39 Organizations on the USA PATRIOT Act's Terrorist Exclusion List". U.S. Department of State. Archived from the original on 8 April 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  23. ^ International Criminal Court (14 October 2005). Warrant of Arrest unsealed against five LRA Commanders. Retrieved 2 June 2009.
  24. ^ Richard Dowden. "Court threatens to block cannibal cult's peace offer". Royal African Society. Archived from the original on 21 January 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2011.