LRA nurtures the next generation of child soldiers

DRC: Landmines hurting farmers’ livelihoods

KABALO, 26 March 2012 (IRIN) - Landmines planted about a decade ago in parts of Kabalo territory in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) southeastern Katanga Province are adversely affecting farming livelihoods, and an important World Food Programme (WFP) project. full report

SECURITY: Cracking open the LRA to better eliminate it

DUNGU, 21 March 2012 (IRIN) - After seven years held captive by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), 16-year-old Apiyo Tabisa’s release five months ago in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) along with a dozen or so others was as sudden as her abduction from Uganda. full report

DRC-UGANDA: Congolese refugees hail Lubanga verdict

ISINGIRO, 19 March 2012 (IRIN) - Congolese refugees in Oruchinga camp, southwestern Uganda, have welcomed the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) guilty verdict against former Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) rebel leader Thomas Lubanga. Some of the refugees are survivors of attacks by Lubanga’s forces. On March 14, Lubanga was convicted of the war crimes of conscripting and enlisting children under the age of 15 and using them to take part in hostilities. full report

SECURITY: Fighting Kony with beer, spy planes and YouTube

LIMAYI, 15 March 2012 (IRIN) - It is just before noon in the village of Limayi in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Half a dozen empty beer bottles lie scattered at the feet of five Congolese soldiers lounging in easy chairs beneath a mango tree. A freshly opened bottle is propped-up against an automatic assault rifle lying in the dust. full report

DRC: Lubanga verdict “a first step”

NAIROBI, 14 March 2012 (IRIN) - A ruling by the International Criminal Court (ICC) finding former Congolese rebel leader Thomas Lubanga guilty of conscripting child soldiers in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) Ituri region is good news in the fight against impunity but more crimes there should be prosecuted, say analysts. full report

UGANDA: Land row delays resettlement of Congolese refugees

KAMPALA, 7 March 2012 (IRIN) - The continued arrival of refugees fleeing post-election violence and militia activities in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in western Uganda, and the government’s efforts to resettle them, have created a land row that has already cost the life of a government official. full report

SECURITY: Questions over progress against the LRA

JOHANNESBURG, 24 February 2012 (IRIN) - The US believes its military intervention in central Africa in pursuit of Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) is having the desired effect, reducing attacks and improving civilian protection - although analysts have reservations. full report

DRC: Untapped potential - some data

NAIROBI, 17 February 2012 (IRIN) - The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) boasts sufficient arable land and water sources to produce food well beyond its own needs, yet it has the world’s highest rates of malnutrition, as the following data illustrate: full report

Analysis: The LRA - not yet a spent force

JOHANNESBURG, 3 February 2012 (IRIN) - The belief that the end is nigh for Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) - a small but ruthless transnational armed group operating in four African states - underestimates its resilience and overestimates the unity and capability of the forces ranged against it, say analysts. full report