Pro-Government Militias
United Liberation Movement for Democracy - Johnson (ULIMO-J) (Liberia)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: | no |
| PGM ID Number: | 15 |
| Country: | Liberia |
| Date formed: | Sept. 1, 1995 |
| Accuracy of date formed: | month |
| Details of Formation: | This group began as a reaction to the civil war, which started in 1989. The group was made up of the Krahn tribe. In 1994 it splintered from the ULIMO faction under Johnson, which was created in 1991 in Sierra Leone, versus ULIMO-K led by Kromah. The group was pro-government whilst their leader was a part of the transitional ruling council, the government of Liberia between September 1995 and 1996. |
| Date dissolved: | March 1, 1996 |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: | month |
| Details of Termination: | This group ceased to be pro-government when their leader was thrown out of the interim government |
| Termination Type(s): | change in government; PGM defects |
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: | 695 |
| PGM Becomes Rebel Group? | yes |
| Successor Rebel Group UCDP ID: | 695 |
Government Relation, Support, and Training
| Government Relation: | informal (type 1) |
| Created by the Government?: | no | Main Creating Government Institution: | none |
| Government Link(s): | person/minister |
| If link to party, name of party: | None |
| Training and Equipment: | yes |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: | no information |
| Shared Personnel: | no information |
| Type(s) of Material Support: | no information |
| State Sponsor(s): | none |
| Other Connection(s): | many members were part of the armed forces before the 1989 coup. |
Group Characteristics
| Membership: | ethnic; former rebels |
| Primary Membership: | ethnic |
| Alternative Primary Membership: | no information |
| Location: | small parts of Bomi, Cape Mount, Margibi |
| Force Strength: | [unknown, 8000] |
| Target(s): | rebels, insurgents, or other armed group |
| Purpose(s): | self-defense and security |
Ethnic Characteristics
| Ethnic Target(s): | none |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Targeting: | not applicable |
| Ethnic Membership: | Krahn (Guere) (Liberia) |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Membership: | given |
| Ethnic Purpose: | none |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Purpose: | not applicable |
Other Information
| Other Information: |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: | The militia was used to fight rebel groups during the civil war, such as the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) or the Lofa Defence Force. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use | unknown |
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: | The PGM was accused of committing human rights violations. |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: | unknown |
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? | no information |
| PGM Members Paid? | no information |
| Reasons for Membership: | Members were drawn from ethnic Krahn members of ULIMO. |
| PGM Members Killed? | no information |
PGM Size
| Size: |
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: | Members were former soldiers of the Armed Forces of Liberia and therefore trained by the government. |
Organisation
| Organisation: | The militia was led by Johnson and described as poorly ruled with dissatisfied fighters and internal divisions. There were difficulties controlling it and senior commanders eventually removed Johnson as leader. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.