Pro-Government Militias

Pro-Government Militia Website

Naparama (Mozambique)

Basic Group Information

Name assigned by coder: no
PGM ID Number: 71
Country: Mozambique
Date formed: June 5, 1990
    Accuracy of date formed: year
Details of Formation: The militia was formed in 1990 as a local force in Nampula. After success in this province, the militia extended their operations to Zambezia province.
Date dissolved: Aug. 8, 1994
    Accuracy of date dissolved: day
Details of Termination: Police collected weapons 1994.
Termination Type(s): disarmed

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: 938

Government Relation, Support, and Training

Government Relation: informal (type 1)
Created by the Government?: no
    Main Creating Government Institution: none
Government Link(s): sub-national government
    If link to party, name of party: (Frelimo)
Training and Equipment: no
Shared Information and Joint Operations: no information
Shared Personnel: no information
Type(s) of Material Support: plunder and loot; villagers
State Sponsor(s): none
Other Connection(s):

Group Characteristics

Membership: religious; village/rural
Primary Membership: religious
Alternative Primary Membership: no information
Location: Zambezia, Nampula
Force Strength: [unknown, 9000]
Target(s): rebels, insurgents, or other armed group
Purpose(s): protect state, national or religious institutions

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: In 1991, Naparama’s spiritual leader died. The militiamen believed in a spiritual power which was supposed to make them invulnerable to spears and injuries. Other names of the militia were Naprama and Nacrama.

New Variables from Meta-Analysis

Purpose

Purpose: The government aligned with the militia to support the regular armed forces in their war against the rebel Mozambican National Resistance.
Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use unknown

Treatment of Civilians

Treatment of Civilians: Group members were supported by villagers who brought them food. It is unclear whether the residents were coerced to do so or if they actually supported Naparama.
Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: unknown

Reasons for Membership

PGM Members Coerced? no
PGM Members Paid? no
Reasons for Membership: Members strongly believed in the spiritual powers of the PGM’s leader. They included local residents from Nampula province and former refugees.
PGM Members Killed? no information

PGM Size

Size: The militia had 9,000 members in 1994.

Weapons and Training

Weapons and Training: The militia was equipped with spears and rifles.

Organisation

Organisation: The PGM was led by a spiritual leader who was worshipped by many of the group’s members as liberator.

Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis

Information was taken from news sources listed in the PGMD.

Evidence