Pro-Government Militias
Young Democrats (United Democratic Front) (Malawi)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: | no |
| PGM ID Number: | 75 |
| Country: | Malawi |
| Date formed: | May 17, 1994 |
| Accuracy of date formed: | day |
| Details of Formation: | The Young Democrats were formed at the height of Malawi's struggle for human rights and democratic reforms in 1993. They were a youth wing of various groupings rallying against dictator Kamuzu Banda’s regime. The date formed refers to the date when Muluzi won the elections with the United Democratic Front (UDF). |
| Date dissolved: | Feb. 5, 2005 |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: | day |
| Details of Termination: | On February 5, 2005 President Bingu Mutharika, who previously was elected on May 20, 2004 as UDF candidate, left the party and created a new party (PPP). The UDF did not have a majority in parliament, and was not involved in the government anymore. |
| Termination Type(s): | change in government |
Former and Successor Group Information
| Predecessor group(s): | none |
| Successor group(s): | none |
| Private Military Company? | no |
| Former Group? | yes |
| Former Armed Group? | no information |
| Former Rebel Group? | yes |
| Former Rebel Group UCDP ID: | none |
| 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): | political party |
| If link to party, name of party: | United Democratic Front |
| Training and Equipment: | yes |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: | yes |
| Shared Personnel: | no information |
| Type(s) of Material Support: | domestic government |
| State Sponsor(s): | none |
| Other Connection(s): | Presidential advisors |
Group Characteristics
| Membership: | adolescents; party activists |
| Primary Membership: | political |
| Alternative Primary Membership: | no information |
| Location: | Lilongwe, Blantyre, Ndirande, Machinga, Liwonde, Chiradzulu, Mzuzu, Kasungu, Chinsapo, Mulanje, Chigwilizano, Ntchilichili, Salima |
| Force Strength: | [1000, 3000] |
| Target(s): | civilians; unarmed political opposition, government critics; journalists |
| Purpose(s): | 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: |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: | The Young Democrats’ main purpose was to intimidate political opposition to the United Democratic Front with which the Young Democrats were aligned. The Young Democrats were regularly active against opposition members and critical journalists, fulfilling their purpose. The UDF allegedly commanded some of the attacks, but denies involvement. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use | deniability of violence |
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: | The Young Democrats used violent actions (especially beatings) against opposition supporters, journalists and civilians. These actions were committed in the name of the president and the UDF; they ordered many of these actions. The police did not interfere in the Young Democrats’ actions. |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: | beating |
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? | no |
| PGM Members Paid? | no information |
| Reasons for Membership: | |
| PGM Members Killed? | no information |
PGM Size
| Size: | A news source of 2002 reports that the president’s advisor had assembled a group of between 1,000-3,000 militant members of the UDF for an action against journalists. There are no other estimates on the complete group size of the Young Democrats. |
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: | The Young Democrats have petrol, matches, pangas, knives and guns. |
Organisation
| Organisation: | The Young Democrats were allegedly led by UDF executive member Humphreys Mvula, though Mvula denies these allegations. On at least one occasion, the president’s advisor Dumbo Lemani assembled and led the group. The group operates from their homes and is organised in committees at national, regional, district and constituency levels, being present in all 193 constituencies. The ruling UDF party allegedly sponsors the Young Democrats’ political violence. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.