A new report by Invisible Children, an advocacy group indicates that a top Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebel has surrendered in the Central African Republic (CAR).
According to the advocacy group, George Okot Odek, a former bodyguard to the illusive rebel leader Joseph Kony defected in the town of Pambayamba, in the CAR late last week before being transferred to the main town of Obo.
Pambayamba, the town in which Odek reportedly surrendered, is in CAR’s Haut Kotto prefecture, and has been among the towns in the region that have experienced an alarming surge of LRA attacks over the past month.
Odek is reported to have surrendered on Saturday, February 6, 2016, in the community of Pambayamba, CAR, before being handed over to security forces in the region.
A commander associated with the former Seleka rebels, according the report, claimed that his soldiers “captured” Odek – who he referred to as “Sam.”
At the time of filing this report, the report of the surrender of the LRA commander could not be independently verified.
Invisible Children attributes the surrender of Odek to the community FM radio partners which have been broadcasting recorded ‘‘Come Home messages’’ across the Democratic Republic of Congo and CAR.
The messages focused specific geographic locations of known LRA activity, and targeting specific groups we’re aware are open to defecting.
Odek, who held the rank of Lieutenant Colonel within the LRA, is originally from the town of Odek in Gulu district, commonly known for being Kony’s birthplace.
He was abducted by the LRA in the mid-90 in Gulu District in northern Uganda, when he was approximately eight years old, and has spent about 22 years in the LRA.
Odek formerly served as one of Kony’s personal bodyguards, during which time he earned a reputation within the LRA as a strong Kony loyalist.
In 2008, after joining Joseph Kony at the Juba Peace talks, Kony appointed Odek as commander of the First Brigade within the LRA, a notably significant position for a young commander.
According to former LRA captives and fighters, Odek was such a trusted member of Kony’s inner circle, that in January of 2012, when Kony put top commander and indicted war criminal, Dominic Ongwen, under “house arrest”, Okot Odek and Major John Bosco Kibwola were given authority over him by Kony.
As of late 2012, Odek was most likely in charge of a small satellite group of LRA fighters in Congo under the leadership of Vincent Binany, who was later killed by Ugandan forces in January 2013.
Odek is said to be a significant leader within the LRA and was one of the few remaining Acholi commanders trusted by Kony. His peaceful defection could be further evidence that some long-time Ugandan leaders within the LRA are becoming increasingly desperate and disillusioned.
