Pro-Government Militias
Civil Defence Organization (ODC) (Angola)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: | no |
| PGM ID Number: | 65 |
| Country: | Angola |
| Date formed: | Nov. 8, 1992 |
| Accuracy of date formed: | year |
| Details of Formation: | The Civil Defence Organization was set up by the MPLA during the civil war. |
| Date dissolved: | Unknown |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: | day |
| Details of Termination: | According to a news source from July 2004, the ODC was banned, but still backed by the ruling party, which also did not disarm the relevant civilian population. The Civil Defence Organization's last armed operation was in March 2005. In 2011 the group still seems to exist, but it is unclear whether they are still armed. |
| 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: | semi-official (type 2) |
| Created by the Government?: | yes | Main Creating Government Institution: | governing party |
| Government Link(s): | political party |
| If link to party, name of party: | MPLA [Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola] |
| Training and Equipment: | yes |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: | yes |
| Shared Personnel: | no |
| Type(s) of Material Support: | domestic government; plunder and loot |
| State Sponsor(s): | none |
| Other Connection(s): |
Group Characteristics
| Membership: | ex soldiers; party activists |
| Primary Membership: | noncivilian |
| Alternative Primary Membership: | political |
| Location: | Cuito, Cachicua, Nharea, Bie Province, Benguela Province |
| Force Strength: | [unknown, unknown] |
| Target(s): | unarmed political opposition, government critics; rebels, insurgents, or other armed group; foreigners |
| Purpose(s): | protect state, national or religious institutions; self-defense and security; intimidate political opposition |
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: | Members are mainly demobilized soldiers of the old government army and MPLA activists. This PGM might be the same organization as the “popular defence organization”. |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: | The Civil Defence Organization was originally founded for civilians to defend themselves against rebel attacks. The PGM was involved in many massacres, not limiting its actions to defense. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use | unknown |
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: | The PGM was involved in systematic elimination of Unita supporters, with more or less official sanction, and sometimes alongside police forces. Regular attacks against Unita supporters are reported between 1992 and 2005. Zaireans were also targeted and killed. |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: | killing |
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? | no information |
| PGM Members Paid? | no information |
| Reasons for Membership: | Members helped themselves to thousands of pounds’ worth of food and medicines stored in UN warehouses. |
| PGM Members Killed? | rarely |
PGM Size
| Size: |
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: | The government distributed arms to the people who made up the Civil Defense Organization. Members were armed with AK-47 assault rifles |
Organisation
| Organisation: |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.