In New Light

This new report examines the origins, aims and impact of the Regional Task Force (RTF) through the lens of civilian protection. The multinational military mission was authorised by the African Union (AU) to help create a secure and stable environment in the border areas of CAR, DRC and South Sudan affected by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). It has contributed to the protection of civilians including by weakening the LRA and keeping combatants away from some population centres. But it has also exposed civilians to new risks. The report identifies how the AU, troop-contributing countries and donors can enhance protection, emphasising that men, women and children will remain at risk until these key actors move beyond military action and tackle the underlying causes of insecurity and underdevelopment in this long-neglected border zone.