Foreign Policy Magazine published an article in its January/February edition entitled, “10 Problems Obama Could Solve Right Now.” The piece features recommendations from ten foreign policy thought leaders on challenges they believe President Obama could solve in his second term.
One of the ten problems that could be addressed, according to John Prendergast, author of Unlikely Brothers and co-founder of the Enough Project and the Satellite Sentinel Project, is the capture of Joseph Kony and leaders of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) who have committed crimes against humanity in Central Africa.
Here are three things Obama and his team can do to really bring Kony to justice:
First, Obama needs to strengthen the existing effort to weaken the LRA. This will require more African forces where the LRA is actually operating, backed by expanded human intelligence networks through improved programs to support defectors and more international support for affected communities.
Second, Obama should push for a high-level diplomatic initiative to be launched by the AU and the United Nations to gain access to the areas of the Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Sudan that are currently LRA safe havens. If the regime in Khartoum continues to deny access, stronger measures — such as U.N. targeted sanctions, an investigation into those providing sanctuary to Kony, and cross-border operations inside Sudan under the international “responsibility to protect” doctrine — should be considered.
Third, Obama should help the AU build an elite special-operations unit — trained, equipped, and working in close cooperation with U.S. military advisors — to directly target Kony and his top deputies. Although some rebel groups continue operating after their leader is removed from the battlefield, the LRA is so tied to Kony’s personality and leadership that his demise or capture would most likely put an end to the group’s activities.
Senator Coons has been a leader in the Senate in calling for Joseph Kony and members of the LRA to be brought to justice. In August, the Senate passed a resolution Chris introduced which condemns the crimes committed by the LRA.
Click here to learn more about Chris’ work to stop Joseph Kony and the LRA
Click here to read the full article on Foreign Policy’s website.