Letter from the President on the Strategy to Support the Disarmament of the Lord’s Resistance Army

TEXT OF A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
TO THE CHAIRMEN AND RANKING MEMBERS OF
THE HOUSE AND SENATE COMMITTEES ON APPROPRIATIONS,
THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS, AND THE
SENATE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS

Dear Mr. Chairman:  (Dear Representative:)  (Dear Senator:)

I am pleased to transmit to the Congress, consistent with section 4 of the Lord's Resistance Army Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-172), the enclosed strategic plan entitled, "Strategy to Support the Disarmament of the Lord's Resistance Army."

The strategy guides U.S. support across the region to mitigate and eliminate the threat to civilians and regional stability posed by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA).  It has four objectives that support regional and multilateral efforts:  (a) increase protection of civilians; (b) apprehend or remove from the battlefield Joseph Kony and senior commanders; (c) promote the defection, disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration of remaining LRA fighters; and (d) increase humanitarian access and provide continued relief to affected communities.

The strategy identifies priority actions related to protecting civilians and eliminating the threat posed by the LRA.  It also provides a framework for the coordination of U.S. efforts and a description of broader efforts in the region.  Given the necessity of bringing political, economic, military, and intelligence support to bear in addressing the threat posed by the LRA, the development of the strategy relied on the significant involvement of the Department of State, the Department of Defense, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and the Intelligence Community.  All will remain engaged throughout implementation.

My Administration looks forward to working closely with the Congress on this important issue.

                        Sincerely,

                        BARACK OBAMA