The influence of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in South Sudan's western equatoria state.a case study of Yambio town

Abstract

The research has been conducted on the influence of the Lord's Resistance Army in South Sudan's Western Equat01ia State, case study of Yambio town. The research aimed at investigating the influence of the Lord's Resistance Army m South Sudan's Western Equatoria State, case study ofYambio town. The research used descriptive and adopted quantitative method using frequency tables, percentages and pic charts. In the study, data was collected from 85 individual; indigenous farmers, business men and government employees within Yambio town. The research employed questionnaire and interview guide which was administered to victims, escapees and LRA survivors; indigenous farmers, business men and civil servants as samples. The findings of the study indicated that the influence of the LRA has negatively impacted the culture of the local people which was being eroded. The economy of Yambio town was in peril with no food productions and no free and safe movements due to LRA ambushes. The political activities of the town were disrupted with less people actively participating due to fear of being targeted by the LRA. Finally the findings were analyzed and came out with the conclusion that peace talks were necessary which the government or the stakeholders such as UNMIS and civil society could initiate. A negotiated peaceful agreement between the local community and the LRA to avoid repetitive atrocities could also be path to peaceful settlement of the LRA conflict. The agreement would allow every activity to normalize with farmers returning to villages to cultivate, businessmen operating freely on Yambio-Uganda road without fear of ambushes and civil servants performing their duties as required. It would also lead to a permanent resolution which could be negotiated with Uganda government to handle LRA conflict in African way without intervening to westem notion justice