[4] In November 2011, the African Union's (AU) Peace and Security Council authorised a Regional Co-operation Initiative for the elimination of the Lord's Resistance Army (sometimes referred to as RCI-LRA).
[2] Prior to the formation of the AU-RTF Uganda had conducted military raids into the Democratic Republic of Congo, targeting LRA camps (see article 2008–09 Garamba offensive).
Most notably Operation Lightning Thunder, launched on 14 December 2008, saw aerial bombardment of the main LRA camp in the Garamba National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Of these, Raska Lukwiya was killed on 12 August 2006, and deputy leader Vincent Otti was executed by firing squad, on Kony’s orders, on 2 October 2007.
Thus at the time the AU Regional Task Force was formed Joseph Kony, Okot Odhiambo and Dominic Ongwen were still at large.
[8] The RCI-LRA was planned to comprise three elements: a Joint Co-ordination Mechanism, chaired by the AU Commissioner for Peace and Security and made up of the Ministers of Defence of the four affected countries (Uganda, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic); a Regional Task Force Headquarters; and, third, the Regional Task Force (AU-RTF) of up to 5,000 troops from the four countries.
[11] This raised the Force to 3,350 (of a total authorised strength of 5,000) and completed the three Sectors envisioned with bases at Dungu (DRC), Obo (CAR) and Nzara (South Sudan).
[32] But AU-RTF operations were apparently continuing in late 2016, when a member of the Task Force was reported abducted by a rebel group in South Sudan's Gbudue State.
[34][35] The rebel group was thought to have been depleted to the point where it no longer presented a military threat, although local people and non-government agencies expressed concern at Uganda's withdrawal from the Central African Republic.