Addis Ababa, 17 January 2015: The leadership of the Regional Task Force (RTF) of the African Union-led Regional Cooperation Initiative for the Elimination of the Lord’s Resistance Army (RCI-LRA), yesterday, handed over Dominic Ongwen, a senior LRA Commander, to the authorities of the Central African Republic (CAR). The hand over took place in Obo, south-eastern CAR, following consultations with, and agreement of, the Government of Uganda.

The Commission notes that Dominic Ongwen’s surrender is a further blow to Joseph Kony and his terrorist group, and commends the RTF for its sustained efforts. 

Dominic Ongwen, who is one of the five senior LRA commanders indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in 2005 for war crimes and crimes against humanity, defected from the group on 27 December 2014 and surrendered to the Seleka in north-eastern CAR. He was airlifted to Obo, on 5 January 2015, by the US Special Forces (USSF), who are supporting the RTF. The USSF handed over Dominic Ongwen to the Ugandan contingent of the RTF in Obo, on 14 January 2015. 

The Commission expresses appreciation to the US Government and the European Union (EU) for their continued support to the RTF, and further appeals to the international community for the mobilization of the logistical and financial resources needed for the completion of the mandate entrusted to the RTF by the AU Peace and Security Council. 

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