On Joseph Kony and the LRA

For the last 24 hours, the hottest topic on twitter and Facebook has been on Joseph Kony and the LRA. Video presentation created by an NGO going by the name Invisible Children has gone viral and people are hyped up about getting help for the children of Uganda. Below is the video carried by the NGO just in case you have not yet seen it.   

I do support any cause that has to do with freedom and liberation for mankind. That has to do with creating awareness about the plight of the infamous that suffer all around the globe. I commend the creators on this piece for the awareness they have brought about. Even though the world have known Joseph Kony for more than 2 decades now for his crimes, a lot of people did not know about him. However, I would advice any one that will watch the above video or that has seen it to embark on more research before you speak on such matters. Awareness is good, but it is useless without education. 

On the other hand, I do not agree that Joseph Kony should be fully blamed for all the child soldiers and rape atrocities that has been committed in Uganda or The Congo over the years. This video takes a one sided look at the subject matter which is not ethical when it comes to good reporting. Partly why I find it fishy in a way. I have so many questions for the Invincible Children's group. The video paints a very unclear picture to the happenings in the region. Peace talks have been going on for some months now with Kony almost inactive. Stirring this up now might derail achieving the needed peace in the region. And I do not believe that getting outside help to stop which would most likely mean to kill Kony is the best solution to the problem at hand. 
According to StrategyWorld.com, as at December 31, 2011, the government of Uganda estimated that the LRA had about 250 active fighters. If correct, these number are not as high as the report in the video makes it seem. If the government of Uganda is committed to getting rid of the LRA, they can. The issue has been on for more than two decades with no results. 

Furthermore, sometime last year, Oil was discovered in Uganda a nation that already has gold, iron ore, tin and so many other natural resources. It would be unrealistic to say that Joseph Kony had no particular cause for fighting all these years as pointed out in the video, if at all he is still even relevant as you read this. There has been cases in the past where a not so relevant rebel leader's name is used for political propaganda. It is nothing new. I could name a few, but would leave that for the future. 

On a final note, justice can not be achieved by getting rid of Kony. The problems will continue if corruption continues to prevail in the region. A man like Kony has to be made to testify as he knows a lot that could help bring other corrupt leaders in the region to book. But I do not see that happening. They would rather kill him than take him to court. The current president of Uganda was among the first people to use child soldiers and even bragged about it in the video below. 

Why not arrest him too on crimes against humanity? Why the one sided judgement?. They are in the same boat with different maps. It is well known that the Invisible Children's group are in good relations with the government. Is there an invisible motive behind recent developments? This is like a criminal getting rid of an opposition who is also a criminal to allow him keep all the loot to himself. I have questions. I need answers and I wont stop asking questions until I get answers. 
Africa does not need the outside world to help correct its past or foreign aid. What nations of Africa need is good leadership coming from its own people. There are people but they do not have a chance because the same old warlords are power mad. Yes, good governance is lacking. If outside countries want to help, their intentions have to be from the heart and not about material gains. There is more to gain if its from the heart as Africans do not forget easily. If we are to make this world a better place, it has to start from home. Every nation and every continent has to clean up their own dirt before thinking about going across boarders to help others even though they might have some kind of interest at stake. What happened to "living by example".