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A paramilitary is a military that is not a part of a country's official or legitimate armed forces. The Oxford English Dictionary traces the use of the term "paramilitary" as far back as 1934.

Though a paramilitary is, by definition, not a military, it is usually equivalent to a light infantry or special forces in terms of strength, firepower, and organizational structure. Paramilitaries use combat-capable kit/equipment (such as internal security/SWAT vehicles), or even actual military equipment (such as long guns and armored personnel carriers; usually military surplus resources), skills (such as battlefield medicine and bomb disposal), and tactics (such as urban warfare and close-quarters combat) that are compatible with their purpose, often combining them with skills from other relevant fields such as law enforcement, coast guard, or search and rescue. A paramilitary may fall under the command of a military, train alongside them, or have permission to use their resources, despite not actually being part of them.

Governmental paramilitary units

Africa

Kenya

• General Service Unit (Kenya)
• Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS)

Libya (Libyan House of Representatives)

• Avengers of Blood

Mauritius

• Special Mobile Force

Nigeria

• Nigeria immigration service (NIS)
• Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC)
• Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps
• Safety and Traffic Cadet Corps
• Federal Fire Service
• Nigeria Correctional Service
• Nigeria Custom Service (NCS)
• National Drug Law Enforcement
• Department of State Service

Agency

Sudan

• Janjaweed (~197x - 2020 but continues in successors units)
• Rapid Support Forces (2013 partially Janjaweed successor till 2023)
• Popular Defence Forces

Americas

Canada

• Canadian Rangers
• The Emergency Response Team (RCMP)
  • Marine Emergency Response Team

Costa Rica

The Public Force of Costa Rica is responsible for law enforcement duties, acting as both a civilian police force and gendarmerie. In addition to ordinary policing, it is responsible for border patrol, counter-insurgency, riot control, tourism security, and coast guard duties.

Peru

• The Rondas campesinas are community-based groups in Peru, formed initially to combat cattle rustling and later in response to the Shining Path insurgency. They function primarily as local self-defense and law enforcement entities, especially in rural areas with limited government presence.

United States

• CIA Special Activities Center, Special Operations Group
• DOE Federal Protective Forces
• DOE Office of Secure Transportation
• FBI SWAT
• FBI Hostage Rescue Team
• United States Marshals Service
• National Lancers
• SWAT

Venezuela

• Venezuelan National Guard
• Bolivarian Militia of Venezuela

Asia

Bangladesh

China (People’s Republic of China)

Taiwan (Republic of China)

Hong Kong

India

Indonesia

Japan

Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea/"North Korea")

Korea (Republic of Korea/"South Korea")

Malaysia

• Pasukan Gerakan Am as Paramilitary Force
• People's Volunteer Corps of Ministry of Home Affairs
• 69 Komando PGK as Multi Spectrum Special Force

Nepal

Pakistan

• Civil Armed Forces

Philippines

Sri Lanka

Thailand

Vietnam

• Militia and Self-Defense (Vietnam)

Europe

Albania

• RENEA

Estonia

• Estonian Defence League

Finland

• Border Guard
• Police Rapid Response Unit

France

• Action Division of DGSE
• National Gendarmerie
• Marseille Naval Fire Battalion of the French Navy
• Paris Fire Brigade of the French Army

Georgia

• Mkhedrioni
• Monadire

Italy

Latvia

• Zemessardze

Lithuania

• Lithuanian Riflemen's Union

Netherlands

• Special Intervention Service

Poland

• BOA KGP

Portugal

• Guarda Nacional Republicana (National Republican Guard)

Russia

• Registered Cossacks of the Russian Federation
• Kadyrovtsy
• Fakel (allegedly)
• Wagner Group (since 2023)
• Redut (since 2022)
• Africa Corps

Sweden

• National Task Force

Turkey

• Village Guards

Ukraine

• Noman Çelebicihan Battalion
• Freedom of Russia Legion
• Sheikh Mansur Battalion (since 2022)

Middle East

Iran

• Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
  • Basij

Iraq

• Peshmerga

Israel

• Magav

Syria

• National Defence Forces

Oceania

Micronesia

• Joint Task Force Micronesia

Australia

• Australian Border Force

Non-governmental paramilitary units

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "List of paramilitary organizations" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (July 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Africa

Somalia

• Raskamboni Front

Sudan

• Rapid Support Forces (since 2023)

Americas

Colombia

• AUC
• AAA
• CONVIVIR
• Peasant Self-Defense Forces of Córdoba and Urabá (ACCU)
• Los Paisas
• Black Eagles
• Los Rastrojos
• Libertadores del Vichada
• Bloque Meta
• ERPAC

See also Right-wing paramilitarism in Colombia.

Mexico

• Jalisco New Generation Cartel
• Grupos de autodefensa comunitaria

United States

Various unorganized non-governmental Militia organizations in the United States (that are not associated with the U.S. military, law enforcement agencies, nor state defense forces in any way). There are many others totaling at around 334 unorganized militia groups as of 2011

• 3 Percenters
• Arizona Border Recon
• Hutaree
• Idaho Light Foot Militia
• Michigan Militia
• Militia of Montana
• Missouri Citizens Militia
• New York Light Foot Militia
• Oath Keepers
• Ohio Defense Force
• Texas Light Foot Militia
• Fruit of Islam, paramilitary wing of the Nation of Islam

Asia

Cambodia

• Cambodian Freedom Fighters (CFF) (Cholana Kangtoap Serei Cheat Kampouchea): Rebel group in Cambodia

Indonesia

• Pancasila Youth
• Free Aceh Movement: Regional separatist group in Aceh, Indonesia. Also known as Aceh Security Disturbance Movement.

Malaysia

• Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN): National separatist group in Malaysia and Thailand
• Barisan Nasional Pembebasan Patani (BNPP): Islamic insurgent group in Malaysia and Thailand

Myanmar

• Eastern Shan State Army
• Mong Tai Army (MTA): Armed drug cartel
• National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA)
• United Wa State Army (UWSA): Autonomous military group in Wa State
• Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA): Also known as the Kokang Army, a Kokang nationalist group active in Myanmar.
• Karen National Liberation Army
• Kachin Independence Army: Group in North Burma which occupies most of Kachin State.
• Shan State Army - North
• Shan State Army - South

Philippines

• Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG): Islamic separatist group in the southern Philippines. Also known as Al Harakut Al Islamiyya.
• Alex Boncayao Brigade (ABB): Urban militant group of the Communist Party of the Philippines
• Bagani: A counter insurgency group operating in Cabanglasan.
• Ilaga (1971-1979): Christian extremist paramilitary group in the Southern Philippines. They battled against the Moro National Liberation Front and Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
• Alamara: A counterinsurgency operating across the central-eastern side of Mindanao

Sri Lanka

• Eelam People’s Democratic Party

Thailand

• Barasi Revolusi Nasional (BRN): National separatist group in Malaysia and Thailand
• Barisan National Pember-Basan Pattani (BNPP): Islamic insurgent group in Malaysia and Thailand

Europe

Kosovo

• Albanian National Army

Bosnia and Herzegovina

• Green Berets
• Serbian Honour. A Russian-trained and -funded paramilitary unit acting in support of separatist leader Milorad Dodik.

Croatia

• Ustaše Militia acted as a para-military unit, an auxiliary part of the WW2 Croatian Nazi Puppet State's Armed Forces

Georgia

• Algeti Wolves: Georgian group which carried out anti-Russian attacks in the 1990s.
• Merab Kostava Society
• White Eagles
• Forest Brothers
• White Legion

Ireland

• Óglaigh na hÉireann (OnH) (2006–09): Small dissident Irish republican group, split from the Continuity IRA.
• Óglaigh na hÉireann (OnH) (2009–): Dissident Irish republican group, split from the Real IRA due to differences in leadership and factionalism.

Poland

• Strzelec Riflemen's Association of Poland

Russia

• Russian Orthodox Army
• Interbrigades
• Russian Imperial Movement
• Wagner Group (until 2023)
• Patriot (company)

Turkey

• Grey Wolves

Ukraine

• Atesh (movement)
• Berdiansk Partisan Army
• Misanthropic Division
• Popular Resistance of Ukraine
• Russian Volunteer Corps
• Ukrainian National Self Defense (till 2022)
• Sheikh Mansur Battalion (till 2019)
• Golden Guard

United Kingdom

There are a number of paramilitary organisations in the United Kingdom, most of them operate in and around Northern Ireland and are a continuation of the various paramilitary groups which operated in Northern Ireland during The Troubles. Apart from these, there are a small number of white supremacist paramilitary organisations which operate in the United Kingdom.

• Real Irish Republican Army (RIRA): Dissident republican group mainly in Northern Ireland
• Ulster Defence Association (UDA): Ulster loyalist group formed in September 1971.
• Ulster Resistance (UR or URM): Ulster loyalist group formed in November 1986, operating in mainly in Northern Ireland
• Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF): Ulster loyalist group formed in 1966, which is not related to the Ulster Volunteers. Operated mainly in Northern Ireland
• Combat 18 - British Neo-Nazi group
• Red Hand Commando (RHC): Ulster loyalist paramilitary group, linked to the Ulster Volunteer Force
• Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF): Ulster loyalist group, split from the UVF's Mid-Ulster Brigade.
• Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) (1974–): Split from the Official IRA in opposition to the OIRA's 1972 ceasefire. Mainly in Northern Ireland
• Irish People's Liberation Organisation (IPLO) (1986–92): Formed by expelled and disaffected members of the INLA after that group started to reduce operations in the mid 1980s. The group were heavily involved in drug dealing and other criminal activities and were forcibly shut down in 1992 by the Provisional IRA.
• Irish Republican Liberation Army (IRLA) (2006–): A "self-styled vigilante group" that split from the Continuity IRA. Linked to the Loyalist Volunteer Force according to some sources.
• The name Irish Republican Army (IRA) has been used by many Irish republican groups in the 20th and 21st centuries. The following names are commonly used by the media and security services, but each group referred to themselves solely as the Irish Republican Army (IRA), and generally rejected the legitimacy of the others.
  • Irish Volunteers (1913–16) Set up to counter the Ulster Volunteers but was shut down after the Easter Rising and formed the I.R.A. (1917–22)
  • Irish Republican Army (1917–22): The original IRA, which was the official defence force of the Irish Republic and fought in the Irish War of Independence.
  • Irish Republican Army (1922–69): The anti-treaty continuation of the original IRA, active during the Irish Civil War, IRA Sabotage Campaign, Northern Campaign, Border Campaign and the Troubles.
  • Official IRA (OIRA) (1969–72): The Official IRA was formed after a split in 1969 between different factions of the 1922 IRA. The OIRA became a more overtly political movement, advocating Marxist–Leninist principles.
  • Provisional IRA (PIRA) (1969–2005): Also known as the Provos, the Provisional IRA was the more militarily active of the two IRAs created out of the 1969 split.
  • Continuity IRA (CIRA) (1986–): Split from the Provisional IRA when that group dropped its policy of abstentionism in relation to Dáil Éireann.
  • Real IRA (RIRA) (1997–): Known in the media as the New IRA since their 2012 merger with Republican Action Against Drugs and other smaller republican militant groups, they split from the Provisional IRA over that group's support for the Irish peace process and the Good Friday Agreement.

Middle East

Iran

• Ansar-e Hezbollah

Israel

• Tsav 9

Lebanon

• Hezbollah

Palestine

• Al-Quds Brigades of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad
• Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades
• Al-Nasser Salah al-Deen Brigades of the Popular Resistance Committees
• Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades of the PFLP
• National Resistance Brigades of the DFLP

• Mujahideen Brigades of the Palestinians Mujahideen Movement

Multinational

• Nordic Strength
• Sea Org: Scientology group with roots in naval tradition. Dress in uniforms, live communally in barracks, and are organized around naval ranks. Some dispute whether it is paramilitary.

See also

• List of defunct paramilitary organizations
• List of police tactical units
• List of private military contractors
• List of private security companies
• List of countries by number of military and paramilitary personnel
• List of police tactical units
• Police tactical unit
• Militia
• Military volunteer
• Mercenary
• List of designated terrorist groups
• Violent non-state actor
• Private army

Footnotes

1. "paramilitary". Oxford English Dictionary (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press. June 2011 . Retrieved 13 September 2011. Designating, of, or relating to a force or unit whose function and organization are analogous or ancillary to those of a professional military force, but which is not regarded as having professional or legitimate status.
2. "paramilitary". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)
3. "Wider conflict feared as Sudan's army and rival paramilitary force clash in capital". PBS NewsHour. 15 April 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
4. ^ Böhmelt, Tobias; Clayton, Govinda (February 2018). "Auxiliary Force Structure: Paramilitary Forces and Progovernment Militias". Comparative Political Studies. 51 (2): 197–237. doi:10.1177/0010414017699204. hdl:10654/38817. ISSN 0010-4140.
5. Kirkpatrick, David D. (20 February 2020). "Inside Hifter's Libya: A Police State With an Islamist Twist". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 20 February 2020. Awaqirs formed the Avengers of Blood in 2013 to seek revenge after a deadly clash with an Islamist-leaning militia. The Avengers became known as enforcers for Mr. Hifter, widely blamed for disappearances and killings. The militia leader, Ezzedine el-Waqwaq, said he was busy with civilian matters.
6. "Ansar-VDP world's largest disciplined force". bssnews. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
7. Shambaugh 2002, p. 170
8. Xu (徐), Ping (平) (19 October 2018). 民兵到底穿什么服装？这里面的讲究还真不少. 81.cn (in Chinese (China)). PLA Daily. Archived from the original on 15 October 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
9. Shambaugh 2002, p. 170
10. ^ "Organization Structure: Organization Chart of HKPF". Hong Kong Police Force. March 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
11. "Police in Figures 2021". Hong Kong Police Force. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
12. ""Flying Tigers" Roar for Consular Corps". Offbeat – the electronic newspaper of the Royal Hong Kong Police. No. 610 – 25 June to 15 July 1997. Hong Kong Police Force. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
13. "Operations - Hong Kong Police Review 2011" (PDF). Hong Kong Police Force. p. 21. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
14. "Assam Rifles". Assam Rifles. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
15. "History of CRPF".
16. "History of ITBP" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 August 2017. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
17. "History of BSF". Archived from the original on 20 August 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
18. "Indonesia beefs up anti-terror unit to tackle growing terror threat". The Straits Times. 30 December 2017. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
19. International Business Publications USA, US-Indonesia Diplomatic and Political Relations Handbook, 2008
20. "Gerindra punya hubungan baik dengan Pemuda Pancasila". MERDEKA.com (in Indonesian). www.merdeka.com. 16 January 2018. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
21. Inside Indonesia, ed. (1999). Inside Indonesia, Issues 57-68. Inside Indonesia, Indonesia Resources and Information Programme. p. 19.
22. Elizabeth Rechniewski, ed. (2018). Seeking Meaning, Seeking Justice in a Post-Cold War World. Brill. p. 138. ISBN 9789004361676.
23. Lyn Parker, Pam Nilan, ed. (2013). Adolescents in Contemporary Indonesia. Taylor & Francis. p. Content. ISBN 9781134072385.
24. 行政機関職員定員令（昭和44年5月16日政令第121号）（最終改正、令和2年3月30日政令第75号） - e-Gov法令検索
25. "경찰통계자료" (in Korean). Korean National Police Agency. 2020. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
26. "Introduction". apf.gov. Archived from the original on 16 July 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
27. Reyes, Danilo. "Policies arming civilians a product of vigilantism". Archived from the original on 13 March 2009. Retrieved 27 December 2008.
28. "Volunteer Defense Corps Act, 1954" (PDF). Ratchakitcha (in Thai). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 November 2011. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
29. "В городах России возобновили набор в ЧВК Вагнера — как в новое подразделение Росгвардии". Meduza (in Russian). Retrieved 20 June 2024.
30. Kurmanaev, Anatoly; Kotrikadze, Ekaterina; Lobzina, Alina (13 November 2023). "Russia steps up efforts to lure Wagner veterans back to Ukraine war". The Japan Times. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
31. "Kremlin's efforts to disband Wagner Group partially succeed – ISW". Ukrainska Pravda. 21 August 2023. Archived from the original on 23 August 2023.
32. "Antigovernment militia groups grew by more than one-third in last year". Southern Poverty Law Center. 4 January 2016. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
33. Kachin conflict#First conflict (1961–1994)
34. "US embassy cables: Sri Lankan government accused of complicity in human rights abuses". The Guardian. 16 December 2010. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
35. Borger, Julian (12 January 2018). "Russian-trained mercenaries back Bosnia's Serb separatists". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
36. "Meet the Russian Orthodox Army, Ukrainian Separatists' Shock Troops". NBC News. 17 May 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
37. "Воинствующий Эдичка Лимонов и его нацболы приехали в ЛНР". OBOZREVATEL PLUS (in Russian). 21 December 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
38. "In a first, U.S. slaps sanctions on Russian white supremacists". POLITICO. Associated Press. 6 April 2020. Retrieved 24 May 2021.

References

• Bowman, Steve (2010). War in Afghanistan: Strategy, Military Operations, and Issues for Congress. DIANE Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4379-2698-9.
• International Institute for Strategic Studies (2017). The Military Balance 2017. Routledge. ISBN 9781857439007.
• Bahl, Taru; Syed, M. H. (2003). Encyclopaedia of Muslim World: Iran. Anmol Publications. ISBN 9788126114191.
• Shambaugh, David (2002). Modernizing China's military: progress, problems, and prospects. University of California Press. ISBN 9780520225077.

• Paramilitary organizations
• Lists of military units and formations