Sens. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Mary Landrieu (D-La.) lead the bipartisan effort and sent a letter to Obama asking him to renew his commitment to finding and arresting Kony.
{mosads}“The LRA has terrorized civilians for nearly three decades, accounting for the deaths of at least 100,000 people and the displacement of more than 400,000,” lawmakers wrote. “The U.S. must stay committed to the mission or risk reversing hard-won gains, and so we respectfully request that the White House reiterate its support for ongoing missions to eradicate the LRA in Africa.”
Obama sent U.S. military and intelligence agents to the region to aid central African countries in the capture of Kony. Landrieu and Inhofe said those U.S. advisers have succeeded in decreasing the number of LRA attacks in the region.
“Recent U.S. involvement has led to the capture of two senior LRA commanders and the defection of nearly 15 percent of LRA’s soldiers,” Inhofe said Thursday. “It is imperative that the U.S. remains engaged in this effort to put an end to the terrorism Kony has caused throughout the continent.”
In addition to Inhofe and Landrieu, Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), Mike Johanns (R-Neb.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Mark Pryor (D-Ark.), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) signed the letter.