Amazonian Guard (Libya)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: |
no
|
| PGM ID Number: |
592
|
| Country: |
Libya |
| Date formed: |
Jan. 1, 1980 |
| Accuracy of date formed: |
decade
|
| Details of Formation: |
The group was created in early 1980s, after Gaddafi had formally resigned as Libyan head of state in favour of the title of “Brotherly Leader and Guide of the First of September Great Revolution of the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya" (Wikipedia). |
| Date dissolved: |
Aug. 23, 2011 |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: |
day
|
| Details of Termination: |
As the Amazonian Guard was Gaddafi’s personal guard it is coded as terminated when the National Transitional Council took over the government on 23 August 2011. |
| 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 |
| Former Armed Group? |
no |
| Former Rebel Group? |
no |
| Former Rebel Group UCDP ID: |
none |
| PGM Becomes Rebel Group? |
unclear |
| Successor Rebel Group UCDP ID: |
none |
Government Relation, Support, and Training
| Government Relation: |
semi-official (type 2) |
| Created by the Government?: |
yes |
Main Creating Government Institution: |
person/minister
|
| Government Link(s): |
person/minister
|
| If link to party, name of party: |
None |
| Training and Equipment: |
yes |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: |
no information |
| Shared Personnel: |
no information |
| 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
| Other Information: |
The group is called by Western journalists “Amazonian Guard” or “Amazons”. Its official name is “The Revolutionary Nuns”. It is an all-female elite cadre of bodyguards for Gaddafi. In 2011 emerged claims by the Amazons that they were abused and raped by high officials of the Libyan government (Wikipedia). |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: |
The purpose of the Amazonian Guard was to protect Muammar Gaddafi who allegedly used them because he believed Arab gunman would have difficulty firing at women. Others claim he used them because he liked being surrounded by young women (Wikipedia). |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use |
unknown
|
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: |
|
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: |
unknown
|
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? |
yes |
| PGM Members Paid? |
no information |
| Reasons for Membership: |
In 2011, members of the Amazonian Guard reported that they were forced to execute rebels if they didn’t want to be killed themselves (Wikipedia). They were allowed privileges related to Western-style women’s fashion. |
| PGM Members Killed? |
rarely |
PGM Size
| Size: |
Gaddafi used to take 15 Amazonian Guards with him when travelling (Wikipedia). There is no information on the overall number of members. |
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: |
Previous to their entry into the Amazonian Guard, members went to a special academy where they underwent extensive firearms and martial arts training (Wikipedia). |
Organisation
| Organisation: |
Members were hand-picked by Gaddafi himself. The group has the legal personality of a government agency (Wikipedia) |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Wikipedia. “Amazonian Guard”. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Amazonian_Guard&oldid=967398669
Evidence
