People's Cavalry Force (Libya)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: |
no
|
| PGM ID Number: |
51
|
| Country: |
Libya |
| Date formed: |
March 19, 1981 |
| Accuracy of date formed: |
year
|
| Details of Formation: |
Its creation was announced by Gaddafi in 1981. He entrusted the task of forming and supervising the People’s Cavalry Force to a colonel. |
| Date dissolved: |
Aug. 23, 2011 |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: |
day
|
| Details of Termination: |
The group supported Gaddafi during the 2011 uprisings. There is no evidence that the group continued to exist after the change in government and the fall of Gaddafi. |
| 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 information |
| Former Armed Group? |
no information |
| Former Rebel Group? |
no information |
| 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?: |
yes |
Main Creating Government Institution: |
none
|
| Government Link(s): |
military (institution)
|
| If link to party, name of party: |
None |
| Training and Equipment: |
yes |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: |
no information |
| Shared Personnel: |
no |
| Type(s) of Material Support: |
domestic government
|
| State Sponsor(s): |
none
|
| Other Connection(s): |
|
Group Characteristics
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
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: |
The People’s Cavalry Force was set up to defend the revolution, realize its aims and protect the people’s authority. Gaddafi said it was an important step to militarize the people. During the 2011 uprising Gaddafi made use of the group as he could not trust the military anymore. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use |
coup-proofing
|
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: |
|
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: |
unknown
|
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? |
no information |
| PGM Members Paid? |
no information |
| Reasons for Membership: |
Students who joined the People’s Cavalry Force were exempt from regular military service. |
| PGM Members Killed? |
no information |
PGM Size
| Size: |
The People’s Cavalry Force was intended to have thousands of horsemen. That is why the number coded in the Force Strength variable is set to a minimum of 2000. |
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: |
Gaddafi announced that the people’s Cavalry Force would be trained in the use of all types of weapons. |
Organisation
| Organisation: |
Gaddafi entrusted the task of forming and supervising the group to a colonel. In general, the force was supervised by the Cavalry Division of the Armed Forces Command. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Information was taken from news sources listed in the PGMD.
Evidence
