Name assigned by coder: | no |
PGM ID Number: | 31 |
Country: | Lesotho |
Date formed: | Jan. 1, 1984 |
Accuracy of date formed: | day |
Details of Formation: | created by the ruling Basutho National Party of Prime Minister Leabua Jonathan |
Date dissolved: | Jan. 20, 1986 |
Accuracy of date dissolved: | day |
Details of Termination: | Terminated with military coup that ended two decades of increasingly autocratic rule by this tiny nation's Prime Minister, Chief Leabua Jonathan, to whom this group was loyal to. |
Termination Type(s): | none |
Predecessor group(s): | none |
Successor group(s): | none |
Private Military Company? | no |
Former Group? | no information |
Former Armed Group? | no information |
Former Rebel Group? | no information |
Former Rebel Group UCDP ID: | none |
PGM Becomes Rebel Group? | no information |
Successor Rebel Group UCDP ID: | none |
Government Relation: | informal (type 1) |
Created by the Government?: | no information | Main Creating Government Institution: | none |
Government Link(s): | person/minister; political party |
If link to party, name of party: | None |
Training and Equipment: | no information |
Shared Information and Joint Operations: | no information |
Shared Personnel: | no information |
Type(s) of Material Support: | no information |
State Sponsor(s): | Korea North |
Other Connection(s): |
Membership: | adolescents |
Primary Membership: | other |
Alternative Primary Membership: | no information |
Location: | Maseru, Lithabaneng suburb (3miles south of Maseru) |
Force Strength: | [unknown, unknown] |
Target(s): | unarmed political opposition, government critics; regular military force |
Purpose(s): | protect state, national or religious leader(s) |
Ethnic Target(s): | none |
Quality of Information for Ethnic Targeting: | not applicable |
Ethnic Membership: | none |
Quality of Information for Ethnic Membership: | not applicable |
Ethnic Purpose: | none |
Quality of Information for Ethnic Purpose: | not applicable |
Other Information: | Trained by North Korea |
Purpose: | The militia was a militant wing of the Basotho National Party and was used by the prime minister Chief Leabua Jonathan against the military and political opposition. In 1986, the military overthrew him in a coup. |
Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use | coup-proofing |
Treatment of Civilians: | Militia members tortured political opponents to secure prime minister Jonathan’s hold on to power. |
Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: | torture |
PGM Members Coerced? | no |
PGM Members Paid? | unclear |
Reasons for Membership: | No information. |
PGM Members Killed? | unclear |
Size: | No information. |
Weapons and Training: | The militia was trained by North Koreans located in Lesotho. |
Organisation: | The militia was aligned with the Basotho National Party. There is no information on its command structures. |