Pro-Government Militias
Gumuz Militia (Ethiopia)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: | no |
| PGM ID Number: | 560 |
| Country: | Ethiopia |
| Date formed: | May 17, 2008 |
| Accuracy of date formed: | year |
| Details of Formation: | The TPLF regime organized the Gumuz to attack and kill Oromos |
| Date dissolved: | Unknown |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: | day |
| Details of Termination: | |
| Termination Type(s): | not terminated |
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 |
| 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: | governing party |
| Government Link(s): | political party; state (institution) |
| If link to party, name of party: | Tigrean People's Liberation Front |
| 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: | ethnic |
| Primary Membership: | ethnic |
| Alternative Primary Membership: | no information |
| Location: | East Welega (Western Oromia) |
| Force Strength: | [unknown, unknown] |
| Target(s): | civilians; ethnic group; students |
| Purpose(s): | intimidation of ethnic/religious groups |
Ethnic Characteristics
| Ethnic Target(s): | Oroma (Ethiopia) |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Targeting: | given |
| Ethnic Membership: | Beni-Shugal-Gumez (Ethiopia) |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Membership: | given |
| Ethnic Purpose: | Oroma (Ethiopia) |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Purpose: | given |
Other Information
| Other Information: | The regime has mobilized and armed elements of the Gumuz people against the Oromo, after previously disarming the latter. |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: | The Gumuz Militia was created to weaken the Oromos as part of the TPLF regime’s “divide and rule” policy aimed at undermining the population’s fight for freedom. This resulted in demographic changes in parts of the country. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use | unknown |
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: | Civilians, specifically Oromos, were heavily attacked by the Gumuz militia, leading to deaths, injuries, displacement and damaged property. The government tolerated and gave the orders for this behaviour. |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: | killing; beating; sexual violence |
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? | no information |
| PGM Members Paid? | no information |
| Reasons for Membership: | Members were recruited based on their ethnicity, with the Gumuz ethnic group being mobilised against Oromos. |
| PGM Members Killed? | no information |
PGM Size
| Size: |
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: | According to news reports, the TPFL regime provided weapons and training to the Gumuz militia. Based on this information, the militia was armed with AK-47 and heavy machine guns, making it more heavily armed than some local police. |
Organisation
| Organisation: | The militia received orders from the government, though there is no detailed information on leadership or the chain of command. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.