Pro-Government Militias
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
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.