Pro-Government Militias

Pro-Government Militia Website

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

Information was taken from news sources listed in the PGMD.

Evidence