Pro-Government Militias
FNL (National Liberation Forces) (Congo Kinshasa)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: | no |
| PGM ID Number: | 424 |
| Country: | Congo Kinshasa |
| Date formed: | Sept. 30, 1998 |
| Accuracy of date formed: | year |
| Details of Formation: | The militia is a Burundi Hutu rebel group that tries to destabilize the Burundi state. The first time the group is mentioned in the sources is in 1998, although they have already existed as a group before. The Congolese government began its support for the militia during the Second Congo War where they fought alongside the Congolese Armed Forces. |
| Date dissolved: | Feb. 24, 2003 |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: | day |
| Details of Termination: | In July 2002, the Congolese government signs a peace treaty with Burundi and commits to disband support for militias that act against Burundi. However, sources report that the DRC continues its support after the signing the agreement by supplying the militia with weapons and ammunition. In 2003, the Congolese government and the rebel groups signed another peace deal ending the Second Congo War forcing the government to withdraw all support for militias. After this agreement, there is no more mention of ongoing fighting. |
| Termination Type(s): | government defects |
Former and Successor Group Information
| Predecessor group(s): | none |
| Successor group(s): | none |
| Private Military Company? | no |
| Former Group? | yes |
| Former Armed Group? | yes |
| 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, 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: | unclear |
| Shared Personnel: | no |
| Type(s) of Material Support: | domestic government |
| State Sponsor(s): | none |
| Other Connection(s): |
Group Characteristics
| Membership: | ethnic; ex soldiers; foreign nationals |
| Primary Membership: | noncivilian |
| Alternative Primary Membership: | ethnic |
| Location: | Eastern Congo |
| Force Strength: | [unknown, unknown] |
| Target(s): | rebels, insurgents, or other armed group; ethnic group; other pro-government militias |
| Purpose(s): | protect national borders and integrity; destabilise neighbouring countries; fight insurgents |
Ethnic Characteristics
| Ethnic Target(s): | Tutsi (Burundi) |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Targeting: | inferred |
| Ethnic Membership: | Hutu (Burundi) |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Membership: | given |
| Ethnic Purpose: | none |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Purpose: | not applicable |
Other Information
| Other Information: |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: | The Hutu militia tried to take control of the Congolese rivers in Sud-Kivu and fought against Burundi which was governed by a Tutsi government. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use | deniability of violence |
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: | There is no information about how the PGM treats civilians. |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: | unknown |
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? | no information |
| PGM Members Paid? | no information |
| Reasons for Membership: | The group’s members are ethnic Hutus from Burundi. Their membership is driven by an ethnically motivated ideology which is why they worked together with Congo’s President Kabila who supports them. |
| PGM Members Killed? | no information |
PGM Size
| Size: | There is no information about the militia’s force strength. |
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: | The FNL received arms and ammunition from the Congolese government. In addition, they carried out joint attacks and operations with the Congolese Armed Forces. |
Organisation
| Organisation: | Alain Mugabarabona is the militia’s leader. President Kabila supplied the group with arms and ammunition. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.