Pro-Government Militias
Government of Liberia (GOL) militias (Liberia)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: | yes |
| PGM ID Number: | 37 |
| Country: | Liberia |
| Date formed: | Nov. 10, 2000 |
| Accuracy of date formed: | year |
| Details of Formation: | The group was formed in 2000 as part of the government's attempt to suppress the LURD rebel group. |
| Date dissolved: | Aug. 11, 2003 |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: | day |
| Details of Termination: | The group ceased to be pro-government with the resignation of Taylor in August 2003 and was subsequently disarmed. |
| 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? | unclear |
| Former Armed Group? | unclear |
| Former Rebel Group? | unclear |
| Former Rebel Group UCDP ID: | none |
| 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?: | unclear | 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 |
| State Sponsor(s): | none |
| Other Connection(s): |
Group Characteristics
| Membership: | adolescents; children |
| Primary Membership: | no information |
| Alternative Primary Membership: | no information |
| Location: | north west of country/monrovia |
| Force Strength: | [unknown, 40000] |
| Target(s): | civilians; rebels, insurgents, or other armed group |
| Purpose(s): | protect state, national or religious leader(s); fight insurgents |
Ethnic Characteristics
| 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
| Other Information: | Groups like Navy Command militia, the Jungle Lions militia , Special Safety Unit, National Board of Investigation, Demus Forces, Special Operation Division, Presidential Guards, Special Investigative Unit of the National Security Agency, stand-by unit are mentioned but not in any detail are included in operations coded under this title. Loyal to Taylor but see other politicians as pocketing the pay that the militiamen see as rightfully belonging to them. Some groups work privately in addition to their loyalty to Taylor, e.g. charging protection money from local hospitals. Many militiamen believe in black magic and fight in costumes, i.e. wigs/feathers/amulets believing that this will protect them from bullets. |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: | The group fought rebels from Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) and recruited others to join them. The PGM was used by Taylor as a means to intimidate the population and to maintain his power. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use | unknown |
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: | The militia used violence against civilians and has been accused of committing war crimes. It executed civilians, killed those who resisted compulsory enlistment, raped women and children, subjected civilians to forced labour, restricted peoples’ movement and used child combatants. Other crimes included looting, which Taylor tried, but failed to, prohibit by threatening punishment, when it occurred even after rebels had been driven out of towns. |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: | killing; beating; sexual violence |
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? | yes |
| PGM Members Paid? | unclear |
| Reasons for Membership: | Members looted the population and self-enrichment as well as revenge based on ethnic grounds have been reported as objectives for members. It has been stated that at least some members, especially child soldiers, were forced to join. According to news sources, payment was erratic and members accused politicians of taking away their payment. |
| PGM Members Killed? | no information |
PGM Size
| Size: |
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: | The group’s weapons have been described as dangerous and they were reported to be heavily armed, e.g. with mortars, rifles, bombs and ammunitions. |
Organisation
| Organisation: | The government failed to effectively control the militias, e.g. indicated by a failure of Taylor to stop looting. It appears that members mainly responded to orders by the president himself and displayed mistrust in other politicians. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.