Washington: Wanted Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony's days as a free man are "numbered," a US lawmaker said on Wednesday, adding that the "noose is tightening" on the leader of the brutal Lord's Resistance Army (LRA).
Kony is accused by the International Criminal Court of the rape, mutilation and murder of civilians, as well as forcibly recruiting child soldiers for his years-long campaign of terror in central Africa.
His exact whereabouts are unknown but he is believed to be in the Central African Republic.
Calls for his arrest grew louder last month after the US group Invisible Children posted a video online that drew attention to his alleged crimes, and quickly went viral.
"Joseph Kony is alive," Johnny Isakson, a Republican senator from Georgia, told a Senate subcommittee focused on Africa.
"His days are numbered in terms of being missing," he added, noting that his arrest will be a "good day for Africa."
Speaking to Agence France Presse (AFP) after the hearing, Isakson added: "The noose is tightening... we're making every effort we can to help."
The assistant US secretary of state for African affairs, Johnnie Carson, noted that the administration of President Barack Obama was "totally
committed" to doing just that to bring Kony and his cronies to justice.
In October, Mr Obama authorized the deployment of 100 combat troops to central Africa to help and advise forces battling LRA rebels.
"Although the US forces are combat-equipped, they will only be providing information, advice and assistance to partner nation forces," Obama said at the time, adding the forces would only engage LRA forces for self-defense.
Kony, a semi-literate former altar boy, took charge in 1988 of a rebellion among northern Uganda's ethnic Acholi minority, to fight the Kampala government it wanted to replace with a regime based on the bible's Ten Commandments.
LRA rebels are accused of terrorizing, murdering, raping and kidnapping thousands of people in the region, and tens of thousands of people died in their 20-year war with security forces in northern Uganda.
Carson said Washington was working with and advising forces in the Central African Republic and had deployed "intelligence assets in the region."
"We have clearly helped to degrade the LRA to disperse it, but we have not finished the mission," he said.
Kony is accused by the International Criminal Court of the rape, mutilation and murder of civilians, as well as forcibly recruiting child soldiers for his years-long campaign of terror in central Africa.
His exact whereabouts are unknown but he is believed to be in the Central African Republic.
"Joseph Kony is alive," Johnny Isakson, a Republican senator from Georgia, told a Senate subcommittee focused on Africa.
Advertisement
Speaking to Agence France Presse (AFP) after the hearing, Isakson added: "The noose is tightening... we're making every effort we can to help."
Advertisement
committed" to doing just that to bring Kony and his cronies to justice.
In October, Mr Obama authorized the deployment of 100 combat troops to central Africa to help and advise forces battling LRA rebels.
Advertisement
Kony, a semi-literate former altar boy, took charge in 1988 of a rebellion among northern Uganda's ethnic Acholi minority, to fight the Kampala government it wanted to replace with a regime based on the bible's Ten Commandments.
Advertisement
Carson said Washington was working with and advising forces in the Central African Republic and had deployed "intelligence assets in the region."
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
LRA Used Brutality To Train Child Fighters, Prosecutors Say Abductions by Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army Rebels on The Rise: UN US sends more forces to hunt for Joseph Kony, fugitive warlord Amid Huge Row, Karnataka Pauses Bill For Reservation In Private Sector Firms Travel Influencer Aanvi Kamdar Dies After Falling Off A Waterfall Near Mumbai Joe Biden Tests Positive For Covid As Age Worries Mount Cattle Transporters Not Assaulted, Died After Fall From Bridge: Chargesheet Singer Adele Announces 'Big Break' From Music At UN, India Calls For Immediate Ceasefire In Gaza, Release Of Hostages Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.