Uganda: The Lord's Resistance Army

An examination of Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), which killed more than 40 civilians in a 2004 attack on a camp of internally displaced persons near Lira, notes that such events are becoming commonplace in northern Uganda. Four theories about the LRA are considered: (1) LRA's...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Review of African political economy 2004-03, Vol.31 (99), p.139-142
Main Author: Dunn, Kevin C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Africa
Armies
Briefings
Child soldiers
Civil war
Conflict
Government initiatives
Interethnic conflict
Kidnapping
Military operations
Paramilitary Forces
Peace treaties
Political conflict
Political economy
Rebellions
Soldiers
Uganda
Violence
War
War conflict
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Summary:An examination of Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), which killed more than 40 civilians in a 2004 attack on a camp of internally displaced persons near Lira, notes that such events are becoming commonplace in northern Uganda. Four theories about the LRA are considered: (1) LRA's leader, Joseph Kony, is a "madman" carrying out a purposeless campaign of violence; (2) the conflict is the result of legitimate complaints of northern peoples; (3) the struggle is a "byproduct of the larger geopolitical rivalry between the Sudanese government & Uganda;" & (4) Uganda is the site of an emerging "political economy of conflict" in which various actors are economically benefiting from the war. It is contended that none of these theories explain all of the circumstances surrounding the conflict. Attention is called to the increase in LRA attacks on civilians, especially children; recent LRA attacks outside its usual zone of conflict; & the failure of the Uganda People's Democratic Army's "Operation Iron Fist" project. The chances for peace are assessed. 7 References. J. Lindroth
ISSN:0305-6244
1740-1720