| Country: | Solomon Islands |
| Details of Formation: | As a result of coup in 2000 and militia leader becoming member of gov 2001 until Australian intervention and disarmament in August 2003 |
| Details of Termination: | Joint operation with a faction of the police (cf. Seagulls pgag) to affect a coup in 2000. Turned in guns following Australian brokered peace deal, thus became non-armed. |
| Purpose: | During the late 1990s and early 2000s, tensions between the Malaitans and Guales began to erupt. The militia was created to defend Malaitans and their property in Guadalcanal. (Wikipedia) |
| Organisation: | The MEF carried out joint operations with the police forces. In 2001, the militia’s leader Alex Bartlett became the country’s foreign minister after the militia staged a coup in 2000. In 2003, the Townsville Agreement officially disbanded the group. |
| Weapons and Training: | In 2003, a disarmament campaign began, and the militia handed in 99 weapons. |
| Size: | No information. |
| Reason for Membership: | Members were Malaitans who joined the militia because of their ethnic loyalty. |
| Treatment of Civilians: | The militia attacked civilians to threaten and extort money from them. In addition, they attacked journalists who reported on human rights abuses committed by the militia. (Amnesty 2000) |
| Other Information: | -- |
| References: |
Amnesty International. 2000. “Fear for safety. Solomon Islands”. AI Index: ASA 43/10/00. Wikipedia. “Malaita Eagle Force”. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Malaita_Eagle_Force&oldid=810049763. Information was taken from news sources listed in the PGMD. |