Gi Morales, a friend in the truest sense of the word, you pitched in with carpools, food runs, and homework help for my boys while I was away and loved them like your own. This never would have been possible without you. And to all the others in my mama tribe, thank you for loving on my family so that this was possible. Melinda Tucker, Estelle Ybarra, Asia Ciaravino, and countless others—thank you.
Pam Omidyar, my soul sister, when the words wouldn’t form you were there to listen to my silence, and you heard me. You powerfully set me back on the path over and over, and called me to my better self. I am grateful to you and to this work, as it brought you into my life.
Bill Townsend, thank you for always and unequivocally having my back. Everyone needs a Bill in their life. Thank you for being mine.
Richard Branson, thank you for never failing to ask me how the mission was going or encourage me every time we spoke.
Jean Oelwang, thank you for your friendship, constant encouragement, and solidarity in striving for a better world.
Dan Cooper, thank you for being there on the ground with us after we failed to help pick up the pieces. Failing is hard, failing alone is impossibly hard—thank you for not letting us fail alone.
Fred Smith, when the evil I encountered caused my faith to shake, you were there to remind me that deep sadness and regret for the state of our world is not only consistent with my faith, but part of the journey.
Esmé Schwall Weigand, I’ve lost count of the number of times I wanted to give up on this book. Thank you for keeping me “in it” and bringing my heart to its words and pages.
Kathy Robbins, it wasn’t easy, and at times it was insanely hard, but you were always there by my side to make it easier.
Doug Abrams, I told you this story at a time when I believed it wasn’t going to be possible to put it on paper. You assured me it could be done and then graciously came alongside me to ensure it was. Thank you, friend.
Spiegel & Grau at Random House, thank you for giving this book a home. For Julie Grau and Gina Centrello, thank you for that meeting so many years ago where you gave me confidence that this book could come to life. For Emi Ikkanda, thank you for living this book with us, and for your incredible contributions along the way.
To those whose names I had to change in this book, you know who you are. Your sacrifices were immeasurable and your names are left out here because you continue to make those sacrifices. Thank you.
Many people prayed for me all along this journey. I am certain that prayer sustained us. Thank you all for that investment, and for keeping us covered in prayers every minute: Deborah Amini, Scott and Shannon Austin, Julie Baldwin, Michele Camp, Sarah Canfield, Mark Carvajal, Elsabeth Cooper, Sam Davis, Mike and Joanie Davis, Will and Cara Davis, Tynan Davis, Shantel Davis, David Dixon, Kenny and Karen Fargason, Steve and Polly Friess, Jana and Jeff Galt, Emily Gambino, Susan Gay, Rob Harrell, Steve Hearne, Monika Henderson, Les Hollon, Rachel Hollon, Shawn and Xochitl Hughes, Miriam Keesey, Jeff Kemp, Kevin and Kelli Mainz, Jesse and Sue Minor, Kristen Minor, Luann Mire, John and Ann Montgomery, Gi Morales, Mike Mulcahy, Opa (Melvin Sueltenfuss), Carey Peek, Vicki Petty, Leslie Popiel, Kourtney and Matt Price, Tiffany Scott Soliz, Abigail Sedgwick, Perry and Dee Dee Sedgwick, Chris and Jill Sedgwick, Dan and Katherine Sedgwick, Richard and Debbie Sedgwick, Joanie Sedgwick, Brian Stone, Alyssa Stone Dixon, Missie Swayze, Jen Tallon, Danielle Voss, Janet Weatherson, Stan and Theresa Whitney, John and Linda Wright, and Summer Wright.
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Acholi An ethnic group from northern Uganda.The LRA’s founders were Acholi and later it was the Acholi population that suffered the most at the hands of the LRA.
AFRICOM United States Africa Command, the US Defense Department entity responsible for military relations with African nations, the African Union, and African regional security organizations, and overseeing all US Department of Defense operations, exercises, and security cooperation on the African continent since 2008.
Bridgeway Foundation The philanthropic arm of Bridgeway Capital Management that gives away half its annual after-tax profits.
DRC The Democratic Republic of Congo, also called DR Congo or Congo, and formerly called Zaire; the second-largest country in Africa and the eleventh-largest in the world; bordered by Zambia, Angola, Republic of the Congo, the Atlantic Ocean, the Central African Republic, South Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and Tanzania.
Garamba National Park One of Africa’s oldest national parks, located in the northeast corner of Congo, and home to chronic poaching, which contributed to the imminent extinction of northern white rhinos. The LRA established its base near Garamba after leaving Uganda in 2006, and continues to exploit the park for ivory.
Holy Spirit Movement A Ugandan rebel group led by Alice Auma (later called Alice Lakwena), an Acholi and spirit-medium who attempted to topple Yoweri Museveni’s government in 1987. The LRA was formed from the remnants of Alice Lakwena’s army.
Human Rights Watch A nongovernmental organization that exposes human rights abuses like torture, violence against women, and child exploitation, helping protect rights and save lives in more than ninety countries worldwide.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) Based at The Hague, an intergovernmental organization and international tribunal established in 2002 under the Rome Statute, with jurisdiction to prosecute individuals for crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes in situations where national courts are unwilling or unable to prosecute criminals, or when the United Nations Security Council or individual states refer situations to the court.
Kafia Kingi A disputed territory on the border between Sudan, South Sudan, and the Central African Republic where Joseph Kony is still believed to be hiding; also called K2.
LRA The Lord’s Resistance Army, the rebel group Joseph Kony established in Uganda in 1987 to defeat President Yoweri Museveni; accused of committing vast human rights violations, and still led by Joseph Kony, the LRA continues to operate in Kafia King, the Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The LRA Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act A 2010 US act of Congress signed into law by President Obama that made it American policy to dismantle the LRA and promote recovery efforts in war-affected northern Uganda.
MONUC The United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the UN mission in Congo established in 1999. The acronym is based on its name in French. The organization was renamed MONUSCO in 2010.
Operation Lightning Thunder A failed military attack on the LRA base near Garamba National Park that began in December 2008, a joint offensive by the Ugandan, Congolese, and South Sudanese armies, with logistical support from US military advisers. The botched mission furthered death and displacement in the region when in response to the attack, the LRA conducted a wave of bloody reprisal killings against civilians in northeastern Congo and southern Sudan.
SOG Special Operations Group, the soldiers within the Ugandan army who received specialized training in counter-LRA tactics by Eeben Barlow’s team, and went on to see many successes in the counter-LRA mission.
STTEP Specialised Tasks, Training, Equipment, and Protection International, a privately owned military, intelligence, and law enforcement training and advisory company supporting primarily African governments, led by Eeben Barlow.
The Elders Founded by Nelson Mandela, an independent group of global leaders working together for peace and human rights.
UPDF Uganda People’s Defense Force, the national military of Uganda.
US Special Forces Specialized members of the United States military, in this book referring to those deployed on the United States Department of Defense’s counter-LRA mission in Central Africa.
Yoweri Museveni President of Uganda since 1986, Museveni helped lead the rebellions that toppled two previous leaders, Idi Amin and Milton Obo
te. His early political marginalization of the Acholi fueled the formation of various northern rebel groups, including the Holy Spirit Movement and the LRA.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
At the time of this book’s publication, the LRA’s capacity to commit atrocities has been severely diminished, and members of Kony’s rank-and-file continue to defect from Central Africa. Through David Ocitti’s incredible leadership, and alongside dedicated partners on the ground, we are continuing to develop and distribute defection messaging, encouraging combatants to lay down their arms and surrender peacefully. We are committed to carrying out family tracing and reunification for Ugandan men, women, and children coming out of the LRA and to supporting this vital work for years to come.
Becoming aware of atrocities in the world and confronting our increasingly interconnected reality is an important step in the process of creating change. Sometimes, the greatest gift we can give others is presence. Other times, it is to speak out—to use our voice, our art, or our influence to amplify the voices of others. And sometimes, it’s to be generous with our skills and resources, and to get behind local leaders living and working on the frontlines.
To ensure that David’s critical work is sustained, and to carry out and support other impactful protection initiatives in the region, we have a non-profit fund called The Resolve dedicated to ensuring that every person who escapes or chooses to surrender can be reunited with their loved ones and go through a meaningful reintegration program that gives opportunities for healing and economic empowerment. Beyond the LRA, we are working to apply best practices for locally led communication and reintegration initiatives into other neighboring conflicts in Central Africa. We believe in the power of peace messaging to stop conflict and in meaningful reintegration to end it for good.
To see this work in action and get updates from the ground, or to make a tax-deductible donation to help promote peace in Central Africa, visit theresolve.org.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
SHANNON SEDGWICK DAVIS is the CEO of the Bridgeway Foundation, a philanthropic organization dedicated to ending and preventing mass atrocities around the world. As an attorney, activist, and passionate advocate for social justice, she has guided Bridgeway Foundation in pioneering solutions to these seemingly intractable issues. Before joining Bridgeway Foundation in 2007, Sedgwick Davis served as Vice President of Geneva Global and was the Director of Public Affairs at the International Justice Mission (IJM). She is an honors graduate of McMurry University and Baylor Law School. Sedgwick Davis currently serves on the Advisory Council of The Elders and is a board member of several organizations, including Virunga Fund Inc. (chair), Humanity United, charity: water, This Bar Saves Lives, Verdant Frontiers, and, formerly, TOMS LLC.
What’s next on
your reading list?
Discover your next
great read!
Get personalized book picks and up-to-date news about this author.
Sign up now.
To Stop a Warlord Page 29
