Pro-Government Militias
Imbonerakure (Burundi)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: | no |
| PGM ID Number: | 483 |
| Country: | Burundi |
| Date formed: | May 6, 2009 |
| Accuracy of date formed: | year |
| Details of Formation: | It is unclear whether the government created the militia. In 2009, the leader of the ruling party confirmed the existence of Imbonerakure. |
| Date dissolved: | Unknown |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: | day |
| Details of Termination: | As of 2015, the militia still exists. |
| Termination Type(s): | not terminated |
Former and Successor Group Information
| Predecessor group(s): | none |
| Successor group(s): | none |
| Private Military Company? | no |
| Former Group? | yes |
| Former Armed Group? | no |
| Former Rebel Group? | no |
| 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: | informal (type 1) |
| Created by the Government?: | unclear | Main Creating Government Institution: | none |
| Government Link(s): | political party |
| If link to party, name of party: | CNDD-FDD (National Council for the Defence of Democracy - Forces for the Defence of Democracy) |
| Training and Equipment: | yes |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: | yes |
| Shared Personnel: | no |
| Type(s) of Material Support: | domestic government |
| State Sponsor(s): | none |
| Other Connection(s): |
Group Characteristics
| Membership: | adolescents; party activists |
| Primary Membership: | no information |
| Alternative Primary Membership: | no information |
| Location: | Countrywide, Training centres in eastern DRC |
| Force Strength: | [1000, 100000] |
| Target(s): | civilians; unarmed political opposition, government critics; journalists |
| Purpose(s): | protect state, national or religious institutions; intimidation of civilians; 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: | Allegedly, the militia is trained to support the army and police in ensuring the safety of citizens and the security of the ruling party’s office. In response to attacks on meeting places of the ruling party, Imbonerakure started marches through the street, shouting death threats aimed at intimidating the political opposition. Many clashes erupted since the formation of the militia between Imbonerakure and militants from opposition parties. They intimidate and attack citizens believed to be affiliated with the opposition. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use | use of violence |
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: | The militia attacked journalists reporting about clashes between them and members of the opposition party (FNL). They furthermore beat civilians suspected to be affiliated with the FNL. In some instances the police intervened in these attacks. Otherwise they enjoy impunity while beating up opponents or engaging in deadly vendettas. Interior Minister Edouard Nduwimana asserted that mistakes are the fault of individuals and should not be held against the movement as a whole. |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: | kidnapping/abductions; killing; beating; torture |
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? | no |
| PGM Members Paid? | no information |
| Reasons for Membership: | Many members of the militia stem from the youth wing of the ruling party CNDD-FDD rendering their political affiliation as a source of motivation to join the group. |
| PGM Members Killed? | rarely |
PGM Size
| Size: | The militia is believed to consist of around 100,000 members. |
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: | Imbonerakure are said to be trained in the province of Muyinga. Further training centres allegedly exist in the DRC. The militia is armed with sticks, clubs, stones, hoes, machetes and rifles. The national police and intelligence services provide them with weapons, vehicles and uniforms. |
Organisation
| Organisation: | The militia operates under the leadership of the ruling party CNDD-FDD. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.