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| More about the LRA can be found on BBC.com |
Central African
Republic was in the news again today because of some violence, but this was not
from the recent war. Fighting between the dominant rebel group and the
government seems to have stopped for now. There are still plenty of other rebel
groups in the country though, including one of the more conspicuous ones, the
Lord's Resistance Army (the LRA).
The LRA started its
fight so it could take over Uganda and govern by following the 10 commandments.
Believing God had called them to carry over threw the government, they have
been using fear and destruction as tools of war across the region. They are
responsible for the brutal slaughtering of many innocent people, as well as the
abduction, mutilation, and/or violent indoctrinating of tens of thousands of
children over the last 25 years. Many may remember last year's YouTube video
"Kony 2012" that went viral overnight. Joseph Kony is the leader of
the LRA and is wanted for war crimes in the international criminal court.
Last Friday
one of his "bodyguards", the one in charge of "child
abduction", was killed.
As of last October
there have been 100 US Special Forces soldiers in CAR, hunting this incredibly
violent group along with several African countries militaries.
The LRA appears to be
hiding somewhere on the west side of CAR, and my mission station (Gamboula) is
located on the far east side, so there is currently not a high risk of them
affecting my work there. However, they are still a very dangerous and
unpredictable group and I would appreciate prayer regarding stability in the
eastern region of CAR, as well as the speedy apprehension of this group.
