Raf'allah al-Sahati Brigade (Libyan Shield Force 3) (Libya)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: |
no
|
| PGM ID Number: |
604
|
| Country: |
Libya |
| Date formed: |
Aug. 8, 2012 |
| Accuracy of date formed: |
year
|
| Details of Formation: |
The group fought against Gaddafi in 2011. It was a battalion of the 17 February Martyrs Brigade (PGM), before expanding to become an independent group (Wikipedia). The first dated evidence of it being pro-government is a statement by Prime Minister Zeidan of the GNC in 2013. As this might point to a GNC-link or Zeidan-link, the earliest point the group could have been pro-government was in 2012. |
| Date dissolved: |
Jan. 1, 2014 |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: |
year
|
| Details of Termination: |
Sources disagree on whether the PGM was integrated into the Libyan Army (TRAC report, cf. PGMD evidence section) or created the Shura Council of Bengazi Revolutionaries that are an opponent of the Libyan National Army and became anti-government after the HoR took over government (Human Rights Watch 2015. The group is likely to have been terminated as PGM at some point in 2014. |
| Termination Type(s): |
unclear
|
Former and Successor Group Information
| Predecessor group(s): |
none
|
| Successor group(s): |
none
|
| Private Military Company? |
no |
| Former Group? |
yes |
| Former Armed Group? |
yes |
| 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: |
semi-official (type 2) |
| Created by the Government?: |
no |
Main Creating Government Institution: |
none
|
| Government Link(s): |
state (institution); military (institution)
|
| If link to party, name of party: |
None |
| Training and Equipment: |
no information |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: |
no information |
| Shared Personnel: |
no information |
| Type(s) of Material Support: |
no information
|
| 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 Raf’allah al-Sahati Brigade is also known as Raf Allah al-Sahati, Rafallah al-Sehati and Libyan Shield Force 3. |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: |
The main purpose of the group is to ensure law and order functions, e.g. by securing elections and Ministry of Defence operations as well as commanding checkpoints. |
| 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? |
no information |
| PGM Members Paid? |
no information |
| Reasons for Membership: |
|
| PGM Members Killed? |
no information |
PGM Size
| Size: |
The group has around 1,000 members (Wikipedia). A news source of 2014 reports that the group is organised in about 12 battalions with a membership in the low thousands. |
Weapons and Training
Organisation
| Organisation: |
The group is led by Mohammed al Gharabi. The Ministry of Defense deployed it to eastern Libya and Kufra (south). |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Human Rights Watch. 2015. “Libya: Civilians Trapped in Benghazi. Allow Safe Passage, Aid Access.” https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/05/25/libya-civilians-trapped-benghazi
Wikipedia. “Rafallah al-Sahati Brigade”. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rafallah_al-Sahati_Brigade&oldid=943724930
Evidence
