| Country: | Libya |
| Details of Formation: | The group fought against Gaddafi in 2011. It was a battalion of the 17 February Martyrs Brigade (PGM), before expanding to become an independent group (Wikipedia). The first dated evidence of it being pro-government is a statement by Prime Minister Zeidan of the GNC in 2013. As this might point to a GNC-link or Zeidan-link, the earliest point the group could have been pro-government was in 2012. |
| Details of Termination: | Sources disagree on whether the PGM was integrated into the Libyan Army (TRAC report, cf. PGMD evidence section) or created the Shura Council of Bengazi Revolutionaries that are an opponent of the Libyan National Army and became anti-government after the HoR took over government (Human Rights Watch 2015. The group is likely to have been terminated as PGM at some point in 2014. |
| Purpose: | The main purpose of the group is to ensure law and order functions, e.g. by securing elections and Ministry of Defence operations as well as commanding checkpoints. |
| Organisation: | The group is led by Mohammed al Gharabi. The Ministry of Defense deployed it to eastern Libya and Kufra (south). |
| Weapons and Training: | -- |
| Size: | The group has around 1,000 members (Wikipedia). A news source of 2014 reports that the group is organised in about 12 battalions with a membership in the low thousands. |
| Reason for Membership: | -- |
| Treatment of Civilians: | -- |
| Other Information: | The Raf’allah al-Sahati Brigade is also known as Raf Allah al-Sahati, Rafallah al-Sehati and Libyan Shield Force 3. |
| References: |
Human Rights Watch. 2015. “Libya: Civilians Trapped in Benghazi. Allow Safe Passage, Aid Access.” https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/05/25/libya-civilians-trapped-benghazi Wikipedia. “Rafallah al-Sahati Brigade”. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rafallah_al-Sahati_Brigade&oldid=943724930 |