Rebel Group Characteristics

 

 

Rebel Financing

 

State Support

Many rebel groups have the support of foreign states that may sympathize with their cause or oppose the government that the rebel group is fighting against. The Palestinian groups like Hamas regularly recieve support from other middle-eastern countries such as Iran and Saudi Arabia.

 

Diaspora

Many groups that fight for a large cause, such as a religous movement, may receive money from sympathizers that support the same cause. Many citizens of countries may move away from their home country but still support organizations within their home country. These are diaspora.

 

Resources

Some rebel groups get huge amounts of funding from natural resources that are in areas they control. Popular examples of this would be diamonds and oil. In Sudan for example, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement uses oil money to fund its operations. The Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo use the diamond, gold, and timber within their control to fund itself.

 

Civilian Support

Much like Diaspora, civilians within countries that rebel groups operate support rebel groups too. In Iran and Iraq, the Kurdish minority supports the rebel groups that defend their rights.

 

 

Rebel Political Activity

 

Presence of Political Wing

Whereas some rebel groups only use military might, other have political wings that try and use politics or democracy to achieve its goals. Fatah and Hamas both operate political wings that try and run their parts of Palestine while at the same time fielding military and terrorist activities.

 

Election Experience

In the same light as having a political wing, some rebel groups use their experience with democratic elections to aid its overall mission.

 

External Relations with International Organizations

Many rebel groups never interact with groups outsdie of their area of operation. Others that do have relations with international actors now must balance the interests and desires of their counterparts in the international community. These relationships can drastically alter how the rebel group may act in regards to their militaristic or political activities.

 

Social Relations with Civilians

Some rebel groups maintain close relationships with their civilian populations such as the Kurdish groups in Iran. Others like Boko Haram do not have close ties with civilians. These relationships, or lack there of, affect the targets that the rebel groups focus on.

 

 

Rebel Military Characteristics

 

Force Strengths

Rebel groups range in size from 35,000+ with the Taliban to small groups operating around the world with no more than 100 people.

 

Attack Capability

Soem small groups have nothing more small arm weapons to carry out their attacks, while other larger more supported groups have much more advanced weaponry. ISIS for example has more than 40 tanks, hundreds of rocket and grenade launchers, artillery guns, anti-aircraft guns, and  plenty of heavy machine guns. The capacity that a group such as this has is much greater than than of a small army of men carrying AK-47's.

 

Organizations (Command and Control)

Rebel groups range in organizational structure. Some groups have a very tight and close chain of command where nothing that any memeber of the group does is not done without approval from someone from the command structure. Many other groups do not have such a control sturucte. In these groups, members may commit violent acts in the name of the group without the groups permission.