The Lord's Resistance Army: Myth and Reality

by Tim Allen, Koen Vlassenroot (Editor)

The Lord's Resistance Army is Africa's most extraordinarily persistent and notorious terrorist group.  Since their rebellion in northern Uganda began in 1987, the group is estimated to have abducted an estimated 30,000 children as well as committing a series of massacres and other horrific human rights abuses against the local population.  Led by the mysterious Joseph Kony, who in 2005 was indicted by the International Criminal Court, they remain a group that inspires both fascination and fear.
 
Authoritative but provocative, The Lord's Resistance Army provides the most comprehensive analysis of the group available, dismantling numerous myths and providing a wealth of information that is not widely known. From the issue of child soldiers to the response of the Ugandan government, the book looks at every aspect of this most brutal of conflicts, and even includes a remarkable first-hand interview with Joseph Kony himself.

Genres: Uganda, Nonfiction, History, Africa

368 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Tim Allen is inaugural Director of the Firoz Lalji Centre for Africa and is Professor in Development Anthropology in the Department of International Development at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent book on the Lord's Resistance Army and the history of violence in northern Uganda. I only gave it four stars, however, because:

(1) It's a very academic book, and I would only recommend it to someone with a particular interest in the history of northern Uganda.
(2) Each chapter is written by a different author, with various academic specialists discussing their particular are of expertise. This provides a wide range of perspectives, but I did not like all of the authors equally. Some are simply not as good writers, and some stated opinions which I cannot fully agree with.

That being said, it's an excellent book, and it helped to add nuance to my perspective. Most of what we know about the LRA has come from NGOs and the Ugandan Government, neither of which are partial sources. This book provided a factual grounding and perspective to the many things I've read over the past six months.

[SpaceBear · Rating 5 out of 5]

Without a doubt the most comprehensive source on the Lord's Resistance Army. Chapters of special note include the origins of the conflict, as well as the role that spirituality plays and the false notions of the LRA that dominate the literature on the subject. Of additional use is the analysis of the IDP camps, and the Museveni government of Uganda's massive human rights abuses which have served only to fuel the conflict. Also provides accounts of the failed Juba peace process. A chapter devoted to child soldiers also discusses the tactical and strategic rationales behind their use. This book is essentiall for anyone who wishes to understand the LRA.