LRA Crisis Tracker // 2012 Annual Security Brief
February 4, 2013 by Invisible Children
The LRA Crisis Tracker, a joint project of Invisible Children and Resolve, just released its 2012 Annual Security Brief (PDF).lra-crisis-tracker-2012-mid-year-security-brief-final.pdf” target=”_blank”>
The Brief provides the most comprehensive analysis of recent LRA activity publicly available, giving field workers, policymakers, and activists a tool to better understand the LRA conflict. Using data collected by Invisible Children’s Early Warning Network, local communities, and organizations working in the region, Invisible Children and The Resolve- LRA Crisis Initiative analyzed thousands of pieces of data collected over the past twelve months. The brief addresses how LRA activity is changing as a result of Ugandan and American military operations and humanitarian efforts to help LRA abductees and fighters peacefully surrender. In particular, the report highlights the increasing number of Ugandan LRA fighters who are surrendering, the effectiveness of the counter-LRA strategy, and why LRA groups are abducting large numbers of people while reducing brutal massacres.
Below we highlight a couple of trends and conclusions of LRA activity from the past 12 months.
LRA violence spiked in the first half of 2012 and then tapered off in the second half of the year
243 abductions (47%) occurred between February and April, including 120 in March alone
There was an 8% reduction in LRA attacks from 2011 (299 attacks) to 2012 (275 attacks)
The number of Ugandan adult males returning from the LRA increased in 2012
Of the 20 who returned in 2012, 15 witnessed defection messaging in the form of either leaflets, FM or shortwave radio broadcasts, or helicopter-mounted speakers
11 Ugandans and 12 non-Ugandan members of the LRA defected to Safe Reporting Sites in CAR in 2012
The majority of LRA abductions in 2012 were adults used as temporary porters, not children trained to become future fighters
Over 64% of abductees escaped or were released within one month of their abduction
Children have comprised 31% of all abductees for whom age and gender information was recorded
Civilians at escalated risk of attack in early 2013
There has been a spike in LRA attacks during the first several months of each of the past three years
LRA combatants perpetrated 275 attacks against civilians in 2012
There were 51 known deaths
The Brief in its entirety is available [HERE] with the French version available [HERE]
To stay up-to-date on LRA activity visit LRACrisisTracker.com or follow them on Twitter @CrisisTracker
4 thoughts on “LRA Crisis Tracker // 2012 Annual Security Brief”
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I hope this LRA should come to an end koni must go to jail
Well that died quickly.
It’s inspiring to see the steady decline of attacks, abductions and most of all the drop in killings. Stay persistant, don’t give up.
We watched Invisible Children only days ago, I wept and thought of all that I could have done. Although I am 13 now I still think that more can be done to help the invisible children of Uganda, Africa etc…. I live on a hot and humid island called Majuro. It is located in the Pacific Ocean. We are neighbors with the equator. But our highest temperatures never reach the Sudan’s regular. We live on a very dirty island and I only wish to help the people of Africa. I would like to get in touch with some of the choldren if thats possible. Thank you and God bless.