| Country: | Libya |
| Details of Formation: | The group was created in early 1980s, after Gaddafi had formally resigned as Libyan head of state in favour of the title of “Brotherly Leader and Guide of the First of September Great Revolution of the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya" (Wikipedia). |
| Details of Termination: | As the Amazonian Guard was Gaddafi’s personal guard it is coded as terminated when the National Transitional Council took over the government on 23 August 2011. |
| Purpose: | The purpose of the Amazonian Guard was to protect Muammar Gaddafi who allegedly used them because he believed Arab gunman would have difficulty firing at women. Others claim he used them because he liked being surrounded by young women (Wikipedia). |
| Organisation: | Members were hand-picked by Gaddafi himself. The group has the legal personality of a government agency (Wikipedia) |
| Weapons and Training: | Previous to their entry into the Amazonian Guard, members went to a special academy where they underwent extensive firearms and martial arts training (Wikipedia). |
| Size: | Gaddafi used to take 15 Amazonian Guards with him when travelling (Wikipedia). There is no information on the overall number of members. |
| Reason for Membership: | In 2011, members of the Amazonian Guard reported that they were forced to execute rebels if they didn’t want to be killed themselves (Wikipedia). They were allowed privileges related to Western-style women’s fashion. |
| Treatment of Civilians: | -- |
| Other Information: | The group is called by Western journalists “Amazonian Guard” or “Amazons”. Its official name is “The Revolutionary Nuns”. It is an all-female elite cadre of bodyguards for Gaddafi. In 2011 emerged claims by the Amazons that they were abused and raped by high officials of the Libyan government (Wikipedia). |
| References: | Wikipedia. “Amazonian Guard”. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Amazonian_Guard&oldid=967398669 |