Page "Military of Guinea" Paragraph 8

Increasing mistrust of the regular armed forces after the Labé plot led to the militia assuming greater importance.

The militia had grown out of a 1961 Democratic Party of Guinea ( PDG ) decision to create workplace ‘ committees for the defence of the revolution .’ These committees were encouraged by party officials to report dishonest practices such as theft and embezzlement of funds which might ‘ endanger the achievements of the revolution .’ The PDG youth arm, the Youth of the African Democratic Revolution ( JRDA ) was especially exhorted to report irregularities and crime to party or police authorities.

Units of volunteers, formed in response to this call, assumed limited policing functions.

Following government praise for these units ’ efforts, the militia's role expanded, especially as black-market activity and smuggling grew worse.

The force was formalized as the Popular Militia ( Milices Populaires ) in the early 1960s, given distinctive uniforms, and linked to the developing civic service, which was engaged on national development tasks.

After 1966 it was consciously modeled after the Chinese Red Guards.