Pro-Government Militias
Saddam's Lion Cubs (Iraq)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: | no |
| PGM ID Number: | 431 |
| Country: | Iraq |
| Date formed: | Jan. 1, 1994 |
| Accuracy of date formed: | decade |
| Details of Formation: | The Lion Cubs were created by the government in the 1990s; sources differ whether they started in 1994, 1996 or 1997. In 1997, they held their first annual training camp for members. |
| Date dissolved: | April 9, 2003 |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: | day |
| Details of Termination: | The date coded is the date of the fall of Baghdad in April 2003. |
| 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? | no |
| Former Armed Group? | no |
| Former Rebel Group? | no |
| Former Rebel Group UCDP ID: | none |
| PGM Becomes Rebel Group? | no |
| Successor Rebel Group UCDP ID: | none |
Government Relation, Support, and Training
| Government Relation: | semi-official (type 2) |
| Created by the Government?: | yes | Main Creating Government Institution: | state (institution) |
| Government Link(s): | person/minister; political party |
| If link to party, name of party: | Baath party |
| Training and Equipment: | yes |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: | no |
| Shared Personnel: | no |
| Type(s) of Material Support: | domestic government |
| State Sponsor(s): | none |
| Other Connection(s): |
Group Characteristics
| Membership: | adolescents; children |
| Primary Membership: | other |
| Alternative Primary Membership: | no information |
| Location: | Baghdad |
| Force Strength: | [8000, 30000] |
| Target(s): | None |
| Purpose(s): | protect state, national or religious institutions; protect state, national or religious leader(s) |
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: | The best of the Cubs were asked to join the Fedayeen Saddam. There is no evidence that the group was ever actively used in combat. The main activity of members was to participate in regular training camps. Members were indoctrinated to adulate Saddam Hussein. The group was also known as Ashbal Saddam. |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: | The main purpose of Saddam’s Lion Cubs was to prepare youth to become fighters in the Saddam Fedayeen. Experts suggest their main function was to ensure the protection of the president and his family. There is no evidence of Lion Cubs being active outside of training camps. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use | unknown |
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: | |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: | unknown |
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? | unclear |
| PGM Members Paid? | no |
| Reasons for Membership: | |
| PGM Members Killed? | never |
PGM Size
| Size: | In 1997, 8,000 adolescents participated in training camps. In 2001 and 2002, 30,000 youths reportedly participated in the training. |
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: | Members regularly received military training. This included learning to fire AK-47 rifles. |
Organisation
| Organisation: | The group was run by Uday, Saddam Hussein’s son. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.