Promises and Perils of Pro-Government Militias

Pro-government militias are frequently involved in armed conflicts. While they offer certain advantages such as localized knowledge, they often become agents of violence and spoil peace processes. What are the promises and perils of pro-government militias in armed conflicts? In her blog post, Prof. Sabine Carey tries to answer this question. The political scientist at the University of Mannheim urges the international community to create targeted disarmament programs. In addition, pro-government militias should be included in peace negotiations so that their interests are represented. The international community should push governments to take responsibility for the atrocities committed by pro-government militias on their territory.