Pro-Government Militias
National Patriotic Front of Liberia (Liberia)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: | no |
| PGM ID Number: | 14 |
| Country: | Liberia |
| Date formed: | Aug. 1, 1995 |
| Accuracy of date formed: | month |
| Details of Formation: | This group became pro-government when Charles Taylor and five other warlords called a truce and set up an interim ruling council in August 1995. Between 1989 and 1992 it was a rebel group that held much of Liberia (except Monrovia). |
| Date dissolved: | Aug. 11, 2003 |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: | day |
| Details of Termination: | Although there were negotiations after which rebels were integrated into the transitional government, groups continued to fight until the Abuja Accord supplement came into effect in August 1996. There was a negotiated agreement to disarm the militia, which was implemented in 1997 when the group started to be disbanded. However, this process was not completed immediately as one report from 1998 states that Taylor still used the NPFL. Many NPFL fighters were integrated into the regular armed forces and the police under Taylor. The group ceased to be pro-government with the resignation of Taylor in August 2003. |
| Termination Type(s): | change in government |
Former and Successor Group Information
| Predecessor group(s): | none |
| Successor group(s): | none |
| Private Military Company? | no |
| Former Group? | yes |
| Former Armed Group? | yes |
| Former Rebel Group? | yes |
| Former Rebel Group UCDP ID: | 507 |
| PGM Becomes Rebel Group? | no |
| Successor Rebel Group UCDP ID: | none |
Government Relation, Support, and Training
| Government Relation: | informal (type 1) |
| Created by the Government?: | no information | Main Creating Government Institution: | none |
| Government Link(s): | person/minister |
| If link to party, name of party: | None |
| Training and Equipment: | no information |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: | yes |
| Shared Personnel: | no information |
| Type(s) of Material Support: | plunder and loot; crime |
| State Sponsor(s): | Libya |
| Other Connection(s): |
Group Characteristics
| Membership: | ethnic; former rebels |
| Primary Membership: | ethnic |
| Alternative Primary Membership: | no information |
| Location: | Monrovia |
| Force Strength: | [unknown, 25] |
| Target(s): | civilians; rebels, insurgents, or other armed group |
| Purpose(s): | self-defense and security; fight insurgents |
Ethnic Characteristics
| Ethnic Target(s): | none |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Targeting: | not applicable |
| Ethnic Membership: | Mano (Liberia); Gio (Liberia) |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Membership: | given |
| Ethnic Purpose: | none |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Purpose: | not applicable |
Other Information
| Other Information: | The group supported itself with illegal trade in diamonds, hardwood and rubber. |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: | The NPFL was used by Taylor to fight rebel groups and political opponents, particularly during the First Liberian Civil War. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use | unknown |
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: | The NPFL was responsible for massacres, killings, torture, kidnapping and political assassinations. It has also been stated that it had a major role in the initiation of the First Liberian Civil War. |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: | kidnapping/abductions; killing; torture |
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? | no information |
| PGM Members Paid? | no information |
| Reasons for Membership: | |
| PGM Members Killed? | no information |
PGM Size
| Size: |
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: | The NPFL was armed with howitzers, guns, mortars and missiles, according to UN officials. The weapons and members’ training were provided by the government. |
Organisation
| Organisation: | The leader of the NPFL was Taylor, from whom members took orders. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.