Pro-Government Militias
Imghad and Allies Tuareg self-defence group/ Gatia (Mali)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: | no |
| PGM ID Number: | 565 |
| Country: | Mali |
| Date formed: | July 10, 2014 |
| Accuracy of date formed: | year |
| Details of Formation: | The government established the militia resembling the Janjawid militias, after the defeat of the Malian army in Kidal (northern Mali) and shortly before the commencement of the inter-Malian dialogue between Mali government officials and Tuareg rebels in Algeria. |
| 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: | unclear |
| Government Link(s): | military (institution) |
| If link to party, name of party: | None |
| Training and Equipment: | no information |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: | yes |
| Shared Personnel: | yes |
| Type(s) of Material Support: | plunder and loot |
| State Sponsor(s): | none |
| Other Connection(s): |
Group Characteristics
| Membership: | ethnic; children; ex soldiers |
| Primary Membership: | no information |
| Alternative Primary Membership: | no information |
| Location: | Azawad region (northern Mali) |
| Force Strength: | [unknown, unknown] |
| Target(s): | rebels, insurgents, or other armed group; aid workers |
| Purpose(s): | protect national borders and integrity; fight insurgents |
Ethnic Characteristics
| Ethnic Target(s): | none |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Targeting: | not applicable |
| Ethnic Membership: | Tuareg (Mali) |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Membership: | given |
| Ethnic Purpose: | none |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Purpose: | not applicable |
Other Information
| Other Information: | The connection between Gatia and the government is not officially acknowledged. Gatia is involved in fights between pro- and anti-government armed groups in northern Mali. In contrast to other Tuareg groups, Gatia is not demanding autonomy for the Azawad region. It is reported that Gatia has been very close to the general of the Malian army, Ag Gamou, who is also a Tuareg and a loyalist of the Malian state, and a member of the same community of the Imghads. The Imoghad tribes are considered among the most prominent Tuareg tribes in northern Mali. Nevertheless the Imghads officially completely reject the position of the group and support the main Tuareg separatist group the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA). |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: | The PGM was a Tuareg self-defense militia that opposed the Tuareg rebels in the north fighting for the secession of Azawad. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use | unknown |
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: | Militiamen detained and tortured suspected members and supporters of Islamist groups. (Human Rights Watch 2017a) |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: | killing; torture |
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? | yes |
| PGM Members Paid? | no |
| Reasons for Membership: | When the Malian army was defeated in 2014 by the separatist groups in the north, they aligned with fighters of the Imghad tribe, which also opposes the secession of Azawad. |
| PGM Members Killed? | no information |
PGM Size
| Size: | No information. |
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: | No information. |
Organisation
| Organisation: | The militia was supported by the government and was comprised of former military personnel. A general of the Malian army, Ag Gamou, had close ties to the PGM. However, there is no information on how the militia was specifically organized. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.