Issue 3: June–September 2012 The Voice of Peace News and views from the areas affected by the Lord’s Resistance Army in Central African Republic (CAR), Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), South Sudan and Uganda INSIDE: Who are the Mbororo? Why the role Key themes: of women is essential in responding to the • Departure of LRA conflict. Plus Amnesty law, interviews and Congolese army, personal stories. LRA not on the agenda? • Mbororo, between the hammer and the anvil. • Women’s role in Juba peace talks REGIONAL SITUATION REPORT June–August What’s inside: 2012: LRA moving back from CAR to DRC Regional situation report Pages 1 & 3 LRA activities between June and August government of DRC responded violently Editorial opinion 2 2012 have occurred mainly in Bas and to encourage their departure. This edition Haut Uélé districts in Democratic of The Voice of Peace will bring some Who are the Mbororo? Republic of Congo and in prefectures of light on this difficult issue. Pages 2, 6 & 7 Mbomou, Haut Mbomou and Haute-Kotto In CAR, especially, in Obo, Ndjema, in Central African Republic. Women’s Voice: Mbambouti areas, there have been Hon. Aol Betty Ocan 4 Most people in Bas and Haut Uélé fear violent attacks and killings in the past that the situation might worsen after the weeks. On the 1 September, the LRA withdrawal of most Congolese army abducted 55 persons during an attack DRC women’s network 5 (FARDC). However in the past weeks, near Bangassou in CAR. A few days there has been a noticeable decrease in earlier, UPDF troops in CAR attacked an Restating part B LRA attacks in DRC. LRA convoy led by a senior LRA Amnesty Act. 5 commander but failed to arrest him. In July, Mbororo herders were accused Regional Civil society of assault, theft and the killings of 1 Continues on p.3 meeting 7 person in DRC and 2 in CAR. The South Sudan has just celebrated its one year without LRA attacks. Issues DRC CAR S. SUDAN TOT 2012 Ju Jul Aug Ju ToJul continue Aug onJu page Jul3 Aug Attacks 23 19 12 6 3 6 0 0 0 69 Abductees 2 6 11 6 0 0 0 0 0 25 Killed 2 9 1 2 4 2 0 0 0 20 Newly 100 10 10 100 0 0 0 0 0 220 displaced Returns/ 2 1 2 9 0 2 1 4 5 26 rescued www.c-r.org/voiceofpeace Page 2 of 8 Editorial -Opinion: Father Ernest Sugule, Editor in Chief, VoP in LRA affected regions. The “Voice of The focus of this third edition of “Voice Peace” wants to give credit to the heroic of Peace” is a regional investigation into work women are doing towards building alleged alliance between the Mbororo peace in these areas. and the LRA. We’re also explore why The third issue in this edition is the the role of women is essential in noticeable changes in the region in responding to the LRA conflict. regard to LRA activities. In the last few Mbororo are nomadic cattle herders weeks, the number of LRA attacks has from various countries such as Chad, gone down and most of the attacks are Libya, Sudan, Cameroon and the aimed at food supplies rather than Central African Republic, In some senseless killing. This change may be places like CAR, the Mbororo are seen related, in the case of DR Congo to the as people who can help the local absence of military pressure on the LRA economy, but in others, like South and therefore no retaliation against Sudan and DRC, they find themselves “Women are doing civilians. accused by some of collaborating with tremendous work to Welcome to this third edition of “Voice of the LRA. bring peace and joy in Peace” with its three key themes. The second focus of this edition is on the LRA affected region.” women. They often bear the brunt of Father Ernest Sugule is Editor-in-Chief of LRA atrocities, but they also do VoP and head of the NGO SAIPED, based in Father Ernest Sugule tremendous work to bring peace and joy Dungu, DRC. Who are the Mbororo? A special investigation The relationship between Mbororo century ago. In the past, legislation from herders and communities in the LRA central governments, border control and affected countries (DRC, CAR, South traditional dispute resolution Sudan) continues to deteriorate. In June, mechanisms contained incidents three people were killed in clashes between the Mbororo and the between Mbororo herders and the agriculturalist Zande inhabiting these Congolese army amid accusations the areas. Mbororo were helping the LRA. However, in the past decade, instability Mbororo Peuls in Central Based on field research and interviews caused by the presence of armed African Republic with populations living alongside Mbororo groups, the resulting displacements of in LRA affected countries, this article is population, in addition to unclear an attempt to understand the causes of legislation on land tenure, and conflicts between the Mbororos and local impoverishment of rural communities population, and reflect on allegations of have increased competition over fertile an alliance with the LRA in Province land. Orientale, DRC, Mbomou, CAR and Western Equatoria State, South Sudan. Note to the reader: Due to access constraints the authors of this article In South Sudan, in June, an Mbororo could not spend sufficient time with group crossed the border from CAR to Mbororo herders. Due to the sensitive escape LRA attacks. In CAR, civil society nature of the conflict we acknowledge activists have been mediating between this paper is an attempt to share analysis communities and Mbororo nomads to on the topic but further research is prevent more recriminations. needed. Mbororo presence in Central Africa dates back to pre-colonial time but their arrival Continued on page 6… in CAR and DRC took place half a The Voice of Peace Page 3 of 8 continued from page1 Regional situation report: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO South Sudanese government is still concerned about the security of its “DRC is confronted with In general, the security situation has citizen because as long as LRA are still many problems and the been relatively calm in the past few in the bush and active in CAR and DRC, LRA is no longer on the weeks in DRC because there are fewer they may anytime cross the border and agenda of the central attacks involving killings however, there attack the peaceful civilians. That is why government” are lootings, kidnappings although those the government forces, arrow boys and Ernest Sugule, religious leader abducted are released the next day. LRA UPDF are always on watch out. and edtior in chief of the VoP, activities are noticed in Garamba CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC Dungu, DRC. National Park, Bangadi and Ango areas. It is also noticed that there is currently a The security situation in CAR Republic is movement of LRA back from CAR to DRC. Why? There are two possible far from better despite the presence of various armies, FACA (Central African reasons: (i) Because of the withdrawal of FARDC, who have been sent to North Republic army), UPDF (Ugandan army), Kivu therefore Haut and Bas Uélé and US advisors. There are still some districts have become an ideal place for attacks recorded in Mbomou, Haut the LRA to find refuge. (ii) A strategic Mbomou and Haute-Kotto prefectures. decision from the LRA to reconstitute, Of the 6576 internally displaced people restructure and regenerate. registered by OCHA only 1% have returned to their villages showing that DRC is confronted with many problems people are still afraid of returning home. and the LRA is no longer in the agenda of the central government. The other The other problem is the remoteness of security concern is the beginning of M23 the areas and lack of basic infrastructure rebellion and the withdrawal of almost all such as roads, hospitals, schools, etc. FARDC in Haut and Bas Uélé thus Unfortunately humanitarian aid is not leaving security vacuum. reaching LRA affected areas. The bishop of Bangassou describes the situation as The last security concern is the tension extremely worrying. All these people lack FARDC empty camp that exists between Mbororo community basic needs such said the bishop. and the local community of the territories According to him the base of LRA is of Ango and Bondo. This situation might currently Fode and Denguiro. There is become worse if there is no immediate urgent need to bring basic services to solution between the two communities. these people and especially repair the Problems of Mbororo, international Obo-Bambouti road so that humanitarian poachers especially in Garamba National aid can reach these desperate people. Park are added to the complex web of There are needs for trauma-healing problems that these two districts suffer programmes, jobs for ex-combatants, from. and greater cooperation between the army and civilians. SOUTH SUDAN UGANDA South Sudan has celebrated one year without LRA attacks, looting, kidnapping The LRA is not currently active in and killing. This is mainly because of the “South Sudan has Uganda however there are still many reached one year without good collaboration that exists between Ugandans in its ranks. During this period the various forces on the ground South LRA attacks, looting, civil society in Uganda have been kidnapping and killing”. Sudanese army (SPLA), Ugandan army challenging a recent controversial (UPDF) and mostly home guards known Father Mark Kumbonyak, change in the Amnesty law (see p5). as the Arrow Boys. People have started Civil society and religious There is still a need to promote safe going back to cultivate in their villages leader, Yambio, South Sudan.