On 5 March, a 29-minute video "KONY 2012" uploaded on YouTube got over 77 million views in less than 10 days. Sarah Mourad attempts to unravel an African enigma The aim of KONY 2012 -- which is part of a campaign by the non-profit group "Invisible Children" -- is to raise awareness about Joseph Kony, leader of Uganda's Lord Resistance Army (LRA) -- an armed opposition group with Evangelical Christian leanings. The LRA has been terrorising Ugandans and people in Congo, Central African Republic and South Sudan since the 1980s. "Invisible Children" was founded in 2004 in America. The NGO has released 11 films, all of which focus on Kony. The LRA was formed in 1987 in northern Uganda especially in regions inhabited by the Acholi ethnic group. The LRA emerged as a reaction against the southern Ugandan ethnic groups. Kony proclaims himself the spokesperson of God and "a spirit medium, primarily of the Holy Spirit". Initially, he gained great support from the people, until he totally changed and turned on them, spreading terror and committing the most brutal acts within eastern and central Africa. He forced adolescents to fight for the LRA, where over 30,000 Ugandan youngsters have been recruited by Kony as child soldiers. He is also known for abducting young girls into sex slavery. The video "KONY 2012" features the group's co-founder Jason Russell, first by showing us his Ugandan friend, a teenager called "Jacob" explaining the violence and fear of abduction in Uganda, and how his brother was killed in front of his own eyes. Afterwards, Russell tells the viewer how they "must" join the campaign and "stop Kony". It ends with a call to "Sign Up to Donate a Few Dollars a Month". The video, or film, is very well put together, made to emotionally move whoever's watching. However, it will not leave the viewer any more knowledgeable about the conflict in Uganda, but only emotionally affected. For instance, there was no mention of the role of the Ugandan government and military in the conflict. Russell's target through this video is spreading awareness about LRA through enticing them to buy various "KONY 2012 merchandise". If the whole world knew about it, Kony will be found and arrested by "American troops". In the video, he explains that the producers have met various senators, and public figures, seeking their help and relying on the aid of "celebrities" like Oprah Winfrey and Angelina Jolie. Uganda is a US client state and one of Washington's closest allies in Africa. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni himself has arguably killed as many, if not more Acholi people than Kony. However, President Museveni was not even mentioned. Maybe because "Invisible Children" had close ties with the Ugandan government and military. However, Washington doesn't have the will to open yet another warfront. Ugandan blogger Rosebell Kagumire says, "this is another video where you see an outsider trying to be a hero rescuing African children. It does not end the problem."
