Pro-Government Militias

Pro-Government Militia Website

Raskamboni / Raas Kaambooni (Somalia)

Basic Group Information

Name assigned by coder: no
PGM ID Number: 609
Country: Somalia
Date formed: April 3, 2011
    Accuracy of date formed: year
Details of Formation: The group emerged as a splinter group of the Ras Kamboni Brigade in 2010. Its goal is to expel Al Shabaab from southern Somalia, to control the port city of Kismayo as well as to establish a semi-autonomous state in the region. The date coded is the day when Somalia's federal government took over and the rule of the Somali Transitional Federal Government ended.
Date dissolved: Unknown
    Accuracy of date dissolved: day
Details of Termination: Between February and August 2013, the group fights the Somali government, and it therefore not classified as a PGM during that time. An agreement between Raas Kaambooni and the Somali government in August 2013 solved the dispute.
Termination Type(s): not terminated

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? yes
    Former Rebel Group UCDP ID: 1004
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?: no
    Main Creating Government Institution: none
Government Link(s): state (institution)
    If link to party, name of party: None
Training and Equipment: no
Shared Information and Joint Operations: yes
Shared Personnel: no
Type(s) of Material Support: self-maintained; plunder and loot; Foreign government
State Sponsor(s): Kenya
Other Connection(s):

Group Characteristics

Membership: ethnic; religious
Primary Membership: ethnic
Alternative Primary Membership: no information
Location: Kismaayo, Lower Jubba Region
Force Strength: [unknown, unknown]
Target(s): civilians; rebels, insurgents, or other armed group; regular military force; other pro-government militias; journalists
Purpose(s): self-defense and security; fight insurgents

Ethnic Characteristics

Ethnic Target(s): none
    Quality of Information for Ethnic Targeting: not applicable
Ethnic Membership: Somali (Somalia)
    Quality of Information for Ethnic Membership: given
Ethnic Purpose: none
    Quality of Information for Ethnic Purpose: not applicable

Other Information

Other Information:

New Variables from Meta-Analysis

Purpose

Purpose: The government aligned with Raskamboni to support the regular forces and other militias in targeting Al-Shabab militants. However, the government is opposed to the PGM’s endeavor of autonomy for the Jubbaland region.
Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use unknown

Treatment of Civilians

Treatment of Civilians: When the group’s security chief was shot by his bodyguard, a former Al-Shabab militant, the PGM began screening and detaining civilians who were alleged Al-Shabab members. Amnesty International has criticized the militia’s use of violence and its violation of human rights. (Amnesty 2015)
Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: killing

Reasons for Membership

PGM Members Coerced? no information
PGM Members Paid? no information
Reasons for Membership: Most members belonged to the ethnic group Ogaden.
PGM Members Killed? rarely

PGM Size

Size: No information.

Weapons and Training

Weapons and Training: The militia received military and financial support from the Kenyan government. It maintained itself through its control over the port of Kismaayo.

Organisation

Organisation: The PGM was led by Sheikh Ahmed Madobe. It carried out joint operations with the regular armed forces and the Kenyan Air Force from the African Union mission AMISOM.

Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis

Amnesty International. 2015. “Somalia National Human Rights Day an opportunity to enhance accountability”.
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2015/08/somalia-national-human-rights-day-an-opportunity-to-enhance-accountability/

Wikipedia. “Raskamboni Movement”.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raskamboni_Movement

Evidence