Japanese NGO Call Leads to Intergovernmental Conference of 3 African Nations! Bringing 500 Abducted 'Child Soldiers' Home

Photo from the international conference held with government officials from three countries. Shingo Ogawa of Terra Renaissance is in the center of the left row. ©Terra Renaissance

The certified NPO Terra Renaissance (Headquarters: Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture; President: Mai Yoshida) has organized and successfully held an interstate conference with government officials from three neighboring countries (Republic of Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Central African Republic) with the aim of ending the 'LRA (Lord's Resistance Army) conflict,' considered one of the most prolonged and severe conflicts in Africa.

This conference aimed to build understanding and a cooperative framework with the respective governments for Terra Renaissance's activities to promote the safe return and social reintegration of former child soldiers left within the armed group, rather than through military operations by the states.

Twenty-one years of 'grassroots' support from Japan have finally moved interstate cooperation, creating a path for an estimated 500 former child soldiers to return home.

Currently, Terra Renaissance is conducting a crowdfunding campaign to complete this historic return and social reintegration process.

https://readyfor.jp/projects/returnees01

Japanese NGO Mobilizes Three Governments

In April 2026, in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, Terra Renaissance held an interstate conference inviting government officials from Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Central African Republic.

The conference was attended by the Minister of State for DDRR/SAPPR (Disarmament, Demobilization, Reintegration, and Repatriation) of the Central African Republic and the Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

For the first time, the three governments held joint discussions on the disarmament, demobilization, and social reintegration of people who were abducted as children and lived as LRA soldiers.

As a result, the three countries agreed to strengthen their collaboration in the repatriation process for 'former child soldiers.'

An extremely unusual peacebuilding process, where an NGO facilitates a diplomatic forum and backs an interstate agreement, is now underway.

Commemorative photo after the conference. Shingo Ogawa of Terra Renaissance is on the right in the front row. ©Terra Renaissance

21 Years of 'Return' and 'Social Reintegration'

The LRA has long replenished its fighters by kidnapping children in various countries. Currently, many of its members are 'former child soldiers' who were originally victims.

For 21 years, Terra Renaissance has been supporting the social reintegration of former child soldiers.

Eventually, the reintegrated individuals themselves began to call for the return of those still left in the armed group, alongside Terra Renaissance, leading to a large-scale return of 141 people in 2023.

Currently, efforts are accelerating to dismantle the LRA from within by accepting its members back into society, thereby ending the conflict.

This initiative has also been made into a documentary film, 'RETURNEES,' which has been showing nationwide since February 2026.

The Process to Save 500 Lives is at its Climax — Crowdfunding Underway

An estimated 500 people, who were abducted as children and are still deprived of their freedom, remain within the armed group.

Most recently, in April 2026, a former girl soldier and her children, 23 people in total, responded to the call and were protected in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, awaiting repatriation to their home country.

To complete this historic return and social reintegration process, Terra Renaissance is currently conducting a crowdfunding campaign calling for 'grassroots' citizen cooperation.

For details and support, please visit here >

[Message from Shingo Ogawa]

Shingo Ogawa, Director of Overseas Projects, Certified NPO Terra Renaissance (at the 3-country intergovernmental conference in April 2026)

'It has been a series of difficult negotiations, like taking three steps forward and two steps back, but we have finally paved the way to reclaim 500 lives. However, if funds are insufficient, we will have no choice but to halt this miraculous process.

Shaping peace with the power of citizens. I sincerely ask for your help in this final push.

Both fundraising and achieving the mission on the ground are very, very big challenges, but I will do my best to run through to the very end!'

Crowdfunding Overview

Target 50 Million JPY 'Bring 500 Child Soldiers Home. A Return Support Project to Abandon Weapons and Reclaim Lives' Project

Until May 31, 2026 (Sun) 23:00 Ongoing on READYFOR

For inquiries (media coverage) regarding this matter:

Certified NPO Terra Renaissance, Public Relations Office

Phone: 075-741-8786

Email: contact@terra-r.jp

Certified NPO Terra Renaissance

'For a world where all life can live in peace...'