| Country: | Liberia |
| Details of Formation: | According to the United States Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Special Security Service existed already prior to 1980. The US Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services report that according to one analyst the SSS had a "fluid and undefined role" during the First Liberian Civil War (1989-1997). When Charles Taylor became president in 1997, he reactivated the group and integrated members of his National Patriotic Front of Liberia into the SSS. According to HRW, the group was newly created by Taylor in 1997. |
| Details of Termination: | The group ceased to be pro-government with the resignation of Taylor in August 2003. With the Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA) of 2003 the SSS was supposed to be demobilized and integrated into the official security apparatus. As part of this, it was transformed into the Executive Protective Service (ESS). |
| Purpose: | The militia was used against political opponents as a protective force for the government, supplementing the diminished regular armed forces, and mainly acting as a presidential guard. It also recruited fighters for the government. |
| Organisation: | The leadership consisted of Taylor supporters and Taylor loyalist Benjamin Yeaten was the head of the militia during Taylor’s presidency. Reports state that the militia was exclusively responsible to Taylor and did not receive orders from elsewhere, e.g. the Ministry of Defence. |
| Weapons and Training: | The militia was trained and armed by the government. |
| Size: | -- |
| Reason for Membership: | Many members were previously engaged in fighting for Taylor, indicating loyalty toward him as a motivation for joining. |
| Treatment of Civilians: | The militia arrested and attacked political opponents of the president, murdered, abducted and evicted civilians, detained journalists and suppressed protesters. The militia was responsible for abuses against the population without being held accountable. |
| Other Information: | -- |
| References: |
Abbs, L., Clayton, G., & Thomson, A. (2020). The ties that bind: Ethnicity, pro-government militia, and the dynamics of violence in civil war. Journal of conflict resolution, 64(5), 903-932.) Human Rights Watch. “EU: Press Nigeria to Hand Over Charles Taylor.” February 24, 2005 https://www.hrw.org/news/2005/02/24/eu-press-nigeria-hand-over-charles-taylor Human Rights Watch. “How to Fight, How to Kill: Child Soldiers in Liberia” February 2004 Vol. 16, No. 2 (A) Human Rights Watch. “Letter to the U.N. Security Council Ahead of Its Trip to West Africa” June 9, 2004. https://www.hrw.org/news/2004/06/09/letter-un-security-council-ahead-its-trip-west-africa United States Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services, Liberia: Information on the Special Security Service, 5 October 2000, LBR01002.ZAR , available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3dee0ddf4.html Wikipedia. “Armed Forces of Liberia” https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Armed_Forces_of_Liberia&oldid=819316404 Wikipedia. „Benjamin Yeaten” https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Benjamin_Yeaten&oldid=811856797 Wikipedia. “1998 Monrovia Clashes” https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1998_Monrovia_clashes&oldid=812337903 |