Pro-Government Militias

Pro-Government Militia Website

ALiR (Army for the Liberation of Rwanda) (Congo Kinshasa)

Basic Group Information

Name assigned by coder: no
PGM ID Number: 421
Country: Congo Kinshasa
Date formed: Jan. 1, 1998
    Accuracy of date formed: year
Details of Formation: The PGM was created when Hutus fled from Rwanda into the Congo after the Tutsi government was established. Members of ALiR were former Interahamwe militiamen and former Rwandan soldiers. The group became pro-government in Congo when President Kabila began providing military support to the ALiR during the Second Congo War in 1998. (Wikipedia)
Date dissolved: Sept. 26, 2002
    Accuracy of date dissolved: day
Details of Termination: In 2001 after President Kabila’s assassination, the ALiR agreed to merge with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), although it is still sometimes referred to as ALiR by sources after that time. A source reports that the government in Kinshasa halted support for the ALiR in 2002.
Termination Type(s): none

Former and Successor Group Information

Predecessor group(s): none
Successor group(s): Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR)
Private Military Company? no
Former Group? yes
    Former Armed Group? yes
Former Rebel Group? yes
    Former Rebel Group UCDP ID: 1128
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?: no
    Main Creating Government Institution: none
Government Link(s): state (institution)
    If link to party, name of party:
Training and Equipment: yes
Shared Information and Joint Operations: no information
Shared Personnel: no information
Type(s) of Material Support: domestic government
State Sponsor(s): none
Other Connection(s):

Group Characteristics

Membership: ethnic; ideology; village/rural; ex soldiers; foreign nationals
Primary Membership: noncivilian
Alternative Primary Membership: no information
Location: Kivu
Force Strength: [12000, 22000]
Target(s): rebels, insurgents, or other armed group; ethnic group; regular military force; foreigners
Purpose(s): protect national borders and integrity; intimidation of ethnic/religious groups; destabilise neighbouring countries; fight insurgents

Ethnic Characteristics

Ethnic Target(s): Tutsi (Rwanda)
    Quality of Information for Ethnic Targeting: given
Ethnic Membership: Hutu (Rwanda)
    Quality of Information for Ethnic Membership: given
Ethnic Purpose: Tutsi (Rwanda)
    Quality of Information for Ethnic Purpose: given

Other Information

Other Information: Used to fight against Rwandan invaders

New Variables from Meta-Analysis

Purpose

Purpose: The ALiR,which is the successor group of the Hutu militias from Rwanda, continued to fight against the Tutsi government in Rwanda led by Kagame and their allies such as Uganda. They also fought against foreigners in the DRC to gain support from the local population. The Congolese government aligned with the militia during the Second Congo War in 1998 when the Congolese Rally for Democracy (supported by the Rwandan government) tried to overthrow President Kabila. (Wikipedia)
Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use unknown

Treatment of Civilians

Treatment of Civilians: The militia targeted foreigners and Tutsis with violent acts. Until 2002, the group was backed by the Congolese government. After 2002, the government stops supporting the militia and their violence against civilians.
Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: kidnapping/abductions; killing; beating

Reasons for Membership

PGM Members Coerced? no
PGM Members Paid? no information
Reasons for Membership: Members joined the PGM because of their ethnic loyalty. As they believed in the “Hutu Power” ideology, their objective was to fight all Tutsis and their supporters (Wikipedia).
PGM Members Killed? never

PGM Size

Size: The PGM has 12,000 to 22,000 members.

Weapons and Training

Weapons and Training: Starting from 1998, the Congolese government provided training and arms to the PGM members as President Kabila used them to fight against insurgents who wanted to overthrow him. (Wikipedia)

Organisation

Organisation: The militia’s leader was Paul Rwarakabije who was a former Rwandan military officer.

Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis

Wikipedia. “Army for the Liberation of Rwanda”.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Army_for_the_Liberation_of_Rwanda

Evidence