Special Security Services (Liberia)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: |
no
|
| PGM ID Number: |
464
|
| Country: |
Liberia |
| Date formed: |
Dec. 12, 1997 |
| Accuracy of date formed: |
year
|
| Details of Formation: |
The militia was created by Taylor after he became president in 1997. |
| 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. With the Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA) of 2003 the SSS was supposed to be demobilized and integrated into the official security apparatus. |
| Termination Type(s): |
change in government; integrated into regular forces
|
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: |
informal (type 1) |
| Created by the Government?: |
yes |
Main Creating Government Institution: |
person/minister
|
| Government Link(s): |
person/minister
|
| If link to party, name of party: |
None |
| Training and Equipment: |
yes |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: |
no information |
| Shared Personnel: |
no information |
| Type(s) of Material Support: |
no information
|
| State Sponsor(s): |
none
|
| Other Connection(s): |
|
Group Characteristics
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
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: |
The militia was used against political opponents as a protective force for the government, supplementing the diminished regular armed forces, and mainly acting as a presidential guard. It also recruited fighters for the government. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use |
unknown
|
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: |
The militia arrested and attacked political opponents of the president, murdered, abducted and evicted civilians, detained journalists and suppressed protesters. The militia was responsible for abuses against the population without being held accountable. |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: |
kidnapping/abductions; killing; beating; sexual violence
|
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? |
no information |
| PGM Members Paid? |
no information |
| Reasons for Membership: |
Many members were previously engaged in fighting for Taylor, indicating loyalty toward him as a motivation for joining. |
| PGM Members Killed? |
no information |
PGM Size
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: |
The militia was trained and armed by the government. |
Organisation
| Organisation: |
The leadership consisted of Taylor supporters and Taylor loyalist Benjamin Yeaten was the head of the militia during Taylor’s presidency. Reports state that the militia was exclusively responsible to Taylor and did not receive orders from elsewhere, e.g. the Ministry of Defence. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Human Rights Watch. “EU: Press Nigeria to Hand Over Charles Taylor.” February 24, 2005 https://www.hrw.org/news/2005/02/24/eu-press-nigeria-hand-over-charles-taylor
Human Rights Watch. “How to Fight, How to Kill: Child Soldiers in Liberia” February 2004 Vol. 16, No. 2 (A)
Human Rights Watch. “Letter to the U.N. Security Council Ahead of Its Trip to West Africa” June 9, 2004. https://www.hrw.org/news/2004/06/09/letter-un-security-council-ahead-its-trip-west-africa
Wikipedia. “Armed Forces of Liberia” https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Armed_Forces_of_Liberia&oldid=819316404
Wikipedia. „Benjamin Yeaten” https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Benjamin_Yeaten&oldid=811856797
Wikipedia. “1998 Monrovia Clashes” https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1998_Monrovia_clashes&oldid=812337903
Evidence
