Pro-Government Militias
People's Vigilante Brigades (Angola)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: | no |
| PGM ID Number: | 50 |
| Country: | Angola |
| Date formed: | Oct. 19, 1983 |
| Accuracy of date formed: | year |
| Details of Formation: | In 1983 Jose Eduardo Dos Santos, President of Angola, signed a decree approving the statutes of the People’s Vigilante Brigades as well as the creation of a national Department of the People’s Vigilante Brigades under the Ministry of Provincial Coordination. |
| Date dissolved: | Unknown |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: | day |
| Details of Termination: | In 1986, many members of the People’s Vigilante Brigades deserted to join UNITA rebels, but others stayed loyal. The PGM is last mentioned in 1989. |
| Termination Type(s): | unclear |
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 information |
| Successor Rebel Group UCDP ID: | none |
Government Relation, Support, and Training
| Government Relation: | semi-official (type 2) |
| Created by the Government?: | no information | Main Creating Government Institution: | none |
| Government Link(s): | state (institution) |
| If link to party, name of party: | |
| Training and Equipment: | no information |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: | no information |
| Shared Personnel: | yes |
| Type(s) of Material Support: | domestic government; crime |
| State Sponsor(s): | none |
| Other Connection(s): |
Group Characteristics
| Membership: | village/rural; urban |
| Primary Membership: | local |
| Alternative Primary Membership: | no information |
| Location: | |
| Force Strength: | [unknown, unknown] |
| Target(s): | criminals; rebels, insurgents, or other armed group |
| Purpose(s): | protect state, national or religious institutions; protect national borders and integrity; self-defense and security; intelligence gathering; anti crime |
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: | The group is also known as popular vigilante brigades or by the acronym BPV (brigadas populares de vigilancia). |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: | Upon foundation, the purpose was stated to be the defence of the country and public property against rebels and criminals. Other purposes were to gather intelligence. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use | knowledge |
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: | Members of this PGM posed as UNITA rebels and raped women and stole property in that disguise. |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: | sexual violence |
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? | no |
| PGM Members Paid? | no |
| Reasons for Membership: | Officially, the group consisted of Angolan citizens who are willing to contribute voluntarily to the PGM’s purpose. |
| PGM Members Killed? | rarely |
PGM Size
| Size: |
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: |
Organisation
| Organisation: | The PGM is organised under the national Department of the People’s Vigilante Brigades under the Ministry of Provincial Coordination. The group’s functioning was assumed, ensured and defined by this ministry and by provincial, municipal, communal and district commissioners. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.