Pro-Government Militias
Youth Cadets (Democratic Progressive Party) (Malawi)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: | no |
| PGM ID Number: | 480 |
| Country: | Malawi |
| Date formed: | April 20, 2011 |
| Accuracy of date formed: | year |
| Details of Formation: | The Youth Cadets were formed in 2011 by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). |
| Date dissolved: | April 7, 2012 |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: | day |
| Details of Termination: | President Mutharika from the DPP died on April 5, 2012. On April 8, 2012, Joyce Hilde Banda from the People’s Party became the President of Malawi. |
| 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: | informal (type 1) |
| Created by the Government?: | yes | Main Creating Government Institution: | governing party |
| Government Link(s): | political party |
| If link to party, name of party: | Democratic Progressive Party |
| Training and Equipment: | no information |
| 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
| Membership: | adolescents |
| Primary Membership: | no information |
| Alternative Primary Membership: | no information |
| Location: | |
| Force Strength: | [unknown, unknown] |
| Target(s): | unarmed political opposition, government critics; journalists |
| Purpose(s): | intimidate political opposition |
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: | The Youth Cadets’ main purpose was to intimidate and act against anti-government protesters as well as critical journalists, which they did during press rallies and after calls from the president. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use | unknown |
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: | The Youth Cadets engaged in intimidation of and threats against journalists. After calls from President Mutharika for violent actions against dissidents, they committed murders, and used firebombs, beatings and harassment to fulfill their President’s wish. They became notorious for beating and torching the housed of DPP opponents. |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: | killing; beating |
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? | no information |
| PGM Members Paid? | no information |
| Reasons for Membership: | |
| PGM Members Killed? | no information |
PGM Size
| Size: |
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: | The Youth Cadets used firebombs. |
Organisation
| Organisation: | The Youth Cadets were the youth wing of the ruling DPP party and were modeled on the Young Pioneers. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.