| Country: | Libya |
| Details of Formation: | The group fought against Gaddafi during the revolution in 2011. It became pro-government when the National Transitional Council took over in August 2011. |
| Details of Termination: | The Brigade joined the Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries that fought against the National Libyan Army of General Haftar. Haftar was then involved in an operation against the GNC government. The Brigade stayed loyal to the Shura Council even after the change in government when the House of Representatives (HoR) took over. The Shura Council was then engaged in attacks against the HoR government. The group ended as a PGM in August 2014. In 2016, the Brigade was characterized by Libyan prosecution and media as terrorist group (Human Rights Watch 2016). |
| Purpose: | The main purpose of this group was to secure law and order in Libya (Wikipedia). This implied quelling clashes between ethnic groups fighting each other. |
| Organisation: | The Brigade received funding by the Libyan defense ministry (Wikipedia). It was sometimes deployed as part of Libyan Shield Force (PGM). Its leader was Fawzi Bukatif who was Libya’s Ambassador to Uganda. |
| Weapons and Training: | The group was considered to be the best armed militia in eastern Libya. It had light and heavy weapons and training facilities (Wikipedia). |
| Size: | The membership was estimated at between 1,500 and 3,500 (Wikipedia) |
| Reason for Membership: | -- |
| Treatment of Civilians: | -- |
| Other Information: | The UCDP actor ID of the “PGM Becomes Rebel Group?” variable refers to the Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries that the 17 February Martyrs Brigade belonged to. |
| References: |
Human Rights Watch. 2014. “Counting the Dead in Benghazi.“ https://www.hrw.org/news/2014/06/06/counting-dead-benghazi Human Rights Watch. 2016. “UAE: Libyans Facing Unfair Trial. Tortured, Denied Access to Lawyers, Defendants Say.” https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/02/04/uae-libyans-facing-unfair-trial Wikipedia. “February 17th Martyrs Brigade“. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=February_17th_Martyrs_Brigade&oldid=939348720 |