Pro-Government Militias
Vigilante Groups (Liberia)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: | yes |
| PGM ID Number: | 477 |
| Country: | Liberia |
| Date formed: | Sept. 1, 2006 |
| Accuracy of date formed: | year |
| Details of Formation: | In 2006 the Liberian National Police has set up vigilante groups in 152 communities. |
| Date dissolved: | Unknown |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: | day |
| Details of Termination: | |
| Termination Type(s): | not terminated |
Former and Successor Group Information
| Predecessor group(s): | none |
| Successor group(s): | none |
| Private Military Company? | noinf |
| Former Group? | no information |
| Former Armed Group? | no information |
| 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: | semi-official (type 2) |
| Created by the Government?: | no information | Main Creating Government Institution: | none |
| Government Link(s): | state (institution) |
| If link to party, name of party: | None |
| Training and Equipment: | no |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: | no |
| Shared Personnel: | no |
| Type(s) of Material Support: | domestic government; villagers |
| State Sponsor(s): | none |
| Other Connection(s): |
Group Characteristics
| Membership: | unclear |
| Primary Membership: | no information |
| Alternative Primary Membership: | no information |
| Location: | None |
| Force Strength: | [unknown, unknown] |
| Target(s): | criminals |
| Purpose(s): | protect property and investment; anti crime |
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: | Vigilante groups were given material support by the Liberian National Police, such as whistles and cell phones. Evidence suggests that male inhabitants of a community become members of the vigilante groups. Members were provided with meals, cigarettes and liquor, all of which was financed by donations from the population. |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: | The intended role of the militia was to act as a neighbourhood watch group to patrol, apprehend robbers and protect the population. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use | unknown |
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: | It is unclear to what extent the group managed to protect civilians and according to one report the militia beat a civilian to death. |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: | killing; beating |
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? | no information |
| PGM Members Paid? | no |
| Reasons for Membership: | Members were provided with meals, cigarettes, and liquor, all of which was financed by donations from the population. |
| PGM Members Killed? | no information |
PGM Size
| Size: |
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: | There is no evidence indicating that members were armed or trained by the government |
Organisation
| Organisation: |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.