COIN case: LRA Lords Resistance Army

[Rex Brynen]

While I appreciate that motivation is 9 tenths of the matter would an investment into training the TGF troops not provide a better return on investment rather than bring in "foreign Christians" from Uganda to try to do the job?

There are a number of options as to how this training may be approached and I am wondering what if anything along these lines has be attempted?

This has been, and is being tried--as publicly evidenced by the abduction of two French security advisors last year. You're right, however, that security in Somalia--if it ever comes--will have to rest on Somali shoulders.

It doesn't help, of course, that not all of the TFG troops are sure what side they are on, or necessarily care!

As for the Ugandans, they have had some moderate (but limited) successes against the LRA. However, as northern Uganda has become increasingly less hospitable, the LRA have moved between south Sudan, DR Congo, and the CAR--which complicates things immensely.