(Newser)
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The search for Joseph Kony continues, and it could be a long time—even years—before we see results, US officials say. They believe the warlord is hiding in the jungles of the Central African Republic, but his low-tech survival methods—no radios, no phones, just messengers on foot—have thus far stymied searchers, whom 100 US troops are advising from five camps in four countries. "This is not going to be an easy slog," the Navy SEAL in charge of the hunt tells the Washington Post, which reports that African troops are tracking Kony across a dense and remote area roughly the size of California.
In their advisory role, US troops aren't allowed to use the weapons they carry unless threatened. Instead, they're focused on gathering intelligence—which has proved a challenge amid conflicting reports. Locals point the finger at Kony for all kinds of trouble, and picking out real leads can be difficult. Meanwhile, yesterday, the head of Uganda's effort against Kony said he was in the Central African Republic, but a Ugandan military spokesman says the warlord is in Sudan, receiving backing from its leaders, reports the BBC. A US official says troops haven't seen evidence of such support.
