Pro-Government Militias
Mouvement patriotique malien Ghanda Koy aka Ganda Koy (Mali)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: | no |
| PGM ID Number: | 492 |
| Country: | Mali |
| Date formed: | April 1, 1994 |
| Accuracy of date formed: | month |
| Details of Formation: | The group formed in April 1994 in self-defence against increasing attacks of armed Tuareg groups, consisting primarily of members of the Songhay ethnic group. It was led by a former army officer and included security forces as members. |
| Date dissolved: | Dec. 24, 2013 |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: | day |
| Details of Termination: | The date of termination is coded as the date of the appointment of the democratic government after the democratic elections after the conflict in 2012/2013. There is no information about any activity of the militia after the elections. |
| 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? | yes |
| Successor Rebel Group UCDP ID: | 715 |
Government Relation, Support, and Training
| Government Relation: | informal (type 1) |
| Created by the Government?: | no | Main Creating Government Institution: | none |
| Government Link(s): | military (institution) |
| If link to party, name of party: | None |
| Training and Equipment: | unclear |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: | no |
| Shared Personnel: | no |
| Type(s) of Material Support: | domestic government; military |
| State Sponsor(s): | none |
| Other Connection(s): |
Group Characteristics
| Membership: | ethnic; security forces; children |
| Primary Membership: | ethnic |
| Alternative Primary Membership: | no information |
| Location: | Mopti |
| Force Strength: | [800, 2000] |
| Target(s): | rebels, insurgents, or other armed group; ethnic group |
| Purpose(s): | protect national borders and integrity; self-defense and security; fight insurgents |
Ethnic Characteristics
| Ethnic Target(s): | Tuareg (Mali) |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Targeting: | given |
| Ethnic Membership: | Blacks (Mali) |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Membership: | given |
| Ethnic Purpose: | none |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Purpose: | not applicable |
Other Information
| Other Information: | Ganda Izo told to be an offshoot of Ganda Koy, both groups existed simultaneously. In 2009 a Tuareg leader stated that the militia was founded by the government and part of the military, however, there is not further evidence for this. Gand Koy and Ganda Izo are told to be part of the Forces of Liberation of the North (FLN), however, it is not clear which other groups belong to the FLN and the groups identify themselves with this union of different militias. |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: | The militia targeted Islamist insurgents which were occupying the north of Mali. The government aligned with them to support the military’s operations against the insurgents in Northern Mali. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use | unknown |
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: | The attacks against members of the Movement for the Liberation of Azawad also caused widespread fear among Tuareg civilians. (Human Rights Watch 2012) |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: | unknown |
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? | yes |
| PGM Members Paid? | no information |
| Reasons for Membership: | In 1994, members were mostly members of the Songhay ethnic group who aimed to protect their villages against armed Tuareg rebels. Later members were deeply committed to fighting the Islamist rebels. They were attracted by the promise of possible recruitment by the regular armed forces. |
| PGM Members Killed? | no information |
PGM Size
| Size: | The militia had about 800 to 2,000 members. |
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: | One source reports a shortage of weapons and equipment which is why the militia also used wooden sticks during training sessions. |
Organisation
| Organisation: | The army claimed that it would take the militia under its control, but there is no evidence of actual military support. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.