Obama signs anti-LRA bill

U.S. President Barack Obama has signed legislation to develop a strategy within 180 days to battle the LRA. The bill was signed into law on Monday evening.

The Lord’s Resistance Army Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act reinforces American commitment “to work towards a comprehensive and lasting resolution” in northern Uganda as well as neighbouring affected areas, including north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, southern Sudan, and the Central African Republic.

In a statement issued after signing the bill, the president said: “The legislation crystallizes the commitment of the United States to help bring an end to the brutality and destruction that have been a hallmark of the LRA across several countries for two decades, and to pursue a future of greater security and hope for the people of central Africa”.

He added that the LRA’s actions were an “affront to human dignity” and that the US would strengthen its ability to “protect and assist civilians caught in the LRA’s wake, to receive those that surrender, and to support efforts to bring the LRA leadership to justice”. 

Following the statement, forty-nine human rights, faith-based, humanitarian and advocacy organisations issued a joint declaration to call on the President to implement legislation swiftly.

The Act represents the most widely co-sponsored Africa-specific legislation in U.S. history, as dozens of activists contributed to the president’s decision to sign the bill.

Watch Congressman Mc Govern comment on the bill signing here

christina zur nedden (czurnedden@irt.org.uk)