Pro-Government Militias
Wild Geese (Liberia)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: | no |
| PGM ID Number: | 48 |
| Country: | Liberia |
| Date formed: | Jan. 1, 2002 |
| Accuracy of date formed: | year |
| Details of Formation: | The group was first mentioned in September of 1994 as a faction in Taylor's National Patriotic Front of Liberia. At this point, however, they were not pro-government, but were mentioned as PGM only in 2002. |
| Date dissolved: | Aug. 11, 2003 |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: | day |
| Details of Termination: | The group ceased to be pro-government on the resignation of Taylor in August 2003. It was disarmed as part of the disarmament programme organised by UNMIL. Their disarmament date was December 11th 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? | yes |
| Former Armed Group? | yes |
| Former Rebel Group? | yes |
| Former Rebel Group UCDP ID: | 507 |
| 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): | person/minister |
| If link to party, name of party: | None |
| Training and Equipment: | no information |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: | no information |
| Shared Personnel: | no information |
| Type(s) of Material Support: | plunder and loot |
| State Sponsor(s): | none |
| Other Connection(s): |
Group Characteristics
| Membership: | no information |
| Primary Membership: | no information |
| Alternative Primary Membership: | no information |
| Location: | Todee north west monrovia |
| Force Strength: | [unknown, unknown] |
| Target(s): | civilians; rebels, insurgents, or other armed group |
| Purpose(s): | 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: |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: | |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use | unknown |
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: | The group attacked a hospital, abducted civilians and harassed the population. Some people left areas where the PGM was active due to beatings, looting and extortion committed by its members. |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: | kidnapping/abductions; beating |
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? | no information |
| PGM Members Paid? | no information |
| Reasons for Membership: | Incentives for joining seems to have included looting and extortion. |
| PGM Members Killed? | no information |
PGM Size
| Size: |
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: |
Organisation
| Organisation: |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.