The sanctions are on the LRA’s leader Joseph Kony and two of his elder sons who serve as his deputies.
In a statement released in December 2021, the OFSI accused Kony and his sons of committing acts of violence, abductions and forced displacement of civilians.
“The LRA has been responsible for kidnapping, displacing, committing sexual violence against hundreds of individuals across CAR and has looted and destroyed civilian property,” OFSI noted.
On Ali and Salim Saleh Kony, the two sons of the LRA leader, OFSI noted they were deputy commanders of the group.
Both of them were apparently incorporated into the LRA hierarchy in 2010..Salim, currently be 29 years old now, has spent his entire life in the bush with his father’s force.
He has previously been in charge of the group providing security to his father. However, he now has an added responsibility of field command.
The UK has now joined other countries including the US that had already imposed sanctions on the LRA and its leaders. The US designated it as a terrorist group in 2001 and 2008.
In 2013, the US placed a bounty of $5 million reward for information leading to the arrest of Joseph Kony. The bounty also went for two of his top aides Okot Odhiambo and Dominic Ongwen.
Kony who launched a rebellion in Uganda in 1987 is also wanted by the International Criminal Court. They want him on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, sexual slavery and using child soldiers.
In May 2021, ICC handed Ongwen a 25-year jail term after finding him guilty of 61 crimes.
According to a UN toll in 2013, they blamed the LRA for the deaths of over 100,000 people. They also blamed the group for the abduction of between 60,000 and 100,000 children. And of additionally displacing 2.5 million people.
Similarly, several countries including the US have sanctioned several other Ugandan leaders.
These include serving army and police officers who the US accused of among others, violating human rights and engaging in corruption.
Check Also;
- Why Uganda And US Have Stopped Hunting For Joseph Kony
- Why Another Senior (LRA) Kony Rebel Surrendered
- LRA’s Dominic Ongwen Sentenced Today To 25 Years In Prison
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