Pro-Government Militias

Pro-Government Militia Website

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

Information was taken from news sources listed in the PGMD.

Evidence