Pro-Government Militias
Donzos Militia (Guinea)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: | no |
| PGM ID Number: | 495 |
| Country: | Guinea |
| Date formed: | Sept. 27, 2011 |
| Accuracy of date formed: | year |
| Details of Formation: | The militia seemed to have existed before 2011, and participated in other conflicts in the region. The first evidence for collaboration with the Guinean government turns up during the demonstrations of the opposition in 2011. This is also the day set as the day of formation. |
| Date dissolved: | Unknown |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: | day |
| Details of Termination: | Even though there was no evidence for further activity after 2010 the Government of President Conde is still in power (2014). There is no evidence that the group was disarmed or is not supported by the government anymore. |
| Termination Type(s): | none |
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? | unclear |
| 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?: | no | Main Creating Government Institution: | none |
| Government Link(s): | state (institution) |
| If link to party, name of party: | None |
| Training and Equipment: | no information |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: | yes |
| Shared Personnel: | no information |
| Type(s) of Material Support: | plunder and loot |
| State Sponsor(s): | none |
| Other Connection(s): |
Group Characteristics
| Membership: | criminals |
| Primary Membership: | no information |
| Alternative Primary Membership: | no information |
| Location: | Conakry |
| Force Strength: | [unknown, unknown] |
| Target(s): | civilians; unarmed political opposition, government critics |
| Purpose(s): | intimidation of civilians |
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: | Donzos or Dozos are originally traditional hunters from Mali and the Cote d'Ivoire. |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: | The militia was used by the government to intimidate civilians. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use | unknown |
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: | The militia carried out attacks during demonstrations against protesters, including pregnant women and children. Militia members plundered houses to gain access to goods. One source reports that this behaviour was supported by the government, which could have led to an escalation of violence. |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: | killing |
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? | no information |
| PGM Members Paid? | no information |
| Reasons for Membership: | The militiamen were described as tribal and some were former combatants in other West African conflicts. |
| PGM Members Killed? | no information |
PGM Size
| Size: | No information. |
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: | No information. |
Organisation
| Organisation: | No information. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.