Name assigned by coder: | no |
PGM ID Number: | 414 |
Country: | Congo Kinshasa |
Date formed: | Aug. 28, 1984 |
Accuracy of date formed: | day |
Details of Formation: | The PGM was set up by President Mobutu as an elite unit to control public order and to protect himself. It was also intended to combat rebel groups that might threaten Mobutu’s power. |
Date dissolved: | May 19, 1997 |
Accuracy of date dissolved: | day |
Details of Termination: | In April 1997, a source reports that the Special Presidential Division and the Civil Guard should be disbanded. Eventually, the group was terminated when Mobutu was ousted from power. |
Termination Type(s): | change in government |
Predecessor group(s): | none |
Successor group(s): | none |
Private Military Company? | no |
Former Group? | no |
Former Armed Group? | NA |
Former Rebel Group? | NA |
Former Rebel Group UCDP ID: | none |
PGM Becomes Rebel Group? | no |
Successor Rebel Group UCDP ID: | none |
Government Relation: | semi-official (type 2) |
Created by the Government?: | yes | Main Creating Government Institution: | person/minister |
Government Link(s): | person/minister |
If link to party, name of party: | |
Training and Equipment: | yes |
Shared Information and Joint Operations: | yes |
Shared Personnel: | no information |
Type(s) of Material Support: | domestic government |
State Sponsor(s): | Germany |
Other Connection(s): |
Membership: | ethnic |
Primary Membership: | no information |
Alternative Primary Membership: | no information |
Location: | Nationwide |
Force Strength: | [1000, 20000] |
Target(s): | unarmed political opposition, government critics |
Purpose(s): | protect state, national or religious institutions; protect national borders and integrity; self-defense and security |
Ethnic Target(s): | none |
Quality of Information for Ethnic Targeting: | not applicable |
Ethnic Membership: | Ngbandi (DRC) |
Quality of Information for Ethnic Membership: | inferred |
Ethnic Purpose: | none |
Quality of Information for Ethnic Purpose: | not applicable |
Other Information: |
Purpose: | The group was supposed to restore public order and to patrol the whole country. |
Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use | coup-proofing |
Treatment of Civilians: | The militia used tanks to break up groups of anti-Mobutu protesters and sometimes killed protesters. |
Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: | killing |
PGM Members Coerced? | no information |
PGM Members Paid? | yes |
Reasons for Membership: | There is no information on why members joined the militia. |
PGM Members Killed? | never |
Size: | Sources report that the militia has 1,000 to 20,000 members. |
Weapons and Training: | The militia members received training from France, Belgium, China, Egypt and South Africa, especially by military personnel from Germany. They have access to firearms and use armoured personnel carriers. |
Organisation: | The group is led by Baramoto Kpama, Mobutu's brother-in-law. It has direct ties to President Mobutu, not to the Defense Ministry. Despite its close ties to the government, it is distinct from the Armed Forces (Wikipedia). |