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Somalia People's Militia
In August 1972, the government established the People's
Militia, known as the Victory Pioneers (Guulwadayaal). Although a
wing of the army, the militia worked under the supervision of the
Political Bureau of the presidency. After the SRSP's formation in
1976, the militia became part of the party apparatus. Largely
because of the need for military reserves, militia membership
increased from 2,500 in 1977 to about 10,000 in 1979, and to
approximately 20,000 by 1990. After the collapse of Siad Barre's
regime, the People's Militia, like other military elements,
disintegrated.
The militia staffed the government and party orientation
centers that were located in every settlement in Somalia. The
militia aided in self-help programs, encouraged "revolutionary
progress," promoted and defended Somali culture, and fought
laziness, misuse of public property, and "reactionary" ideas and
actions. Moreover, the militia acted as a law enforcement agency
that performed duties such as checking contacts between Somalis
and foreigners. The militia also had powers of arrest independent
of the police. In rural areas, militiamen formed "vigilance
corps" that guarded grazing areas and towns. After Siad Barre
fled Mogadishu in January 1991, militia members tended to join
one of the insurgent groups or clan militias.
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