Launching of the Operationalization of the AU-led Regional Cooperation Initiative against the Lord's Resistance Army (RCI-LRA)

JUBA, South Sudan, March 23, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Under the auspices of the Government of the Republic of South Sudan (GoRSS), the Commission of the African Union (AU) and the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA), invite journalists to the launching ceremony of the Operationalization of the AU-led Regional Cooperation Initiative against the Lord' Resistance Army (RCI-LRA) on Saturday, 24 March 2012, at 10:00 a.m., at New Sudan Hotel.

Representatives of Member States affected by the LRA, Partners, International Organizations, UN agencies in Juba, and other invited guests will be in attendance.

The Launching Ceremony will take place as a follow-up from the meeting in the Ugandan city of Entebbe on Thursday and Friday this week involving the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN) officials, to finalize a comprehensive regional strategy on combating the LRA.

As part of the ceremony, the four Officers of the Regional Task Force (RTF) appointed by the Chairperson of the Commission will be awarded with Military Accoutrements as a symbolic representation of their Mission.

The meeting is expected to exchange views on the overall political and strategic coordination of the operation against the LRA, to mobilize assistance for the victims of the LRA atrocities, as well as the rebuilding of shattered communities and rehabilitation of the affected areas.

The Press Conference will be addressed by the AU Special Envoy for the LRA issue, Amb. Francisco Maderia, and the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Central Africa and head of UNOCA, Mr. Abou Moussa. The two officials will address various issues regarding the coordination of efforts to fight against the LRA.