Eritrean Militia for Internal Security (Italian Empire)
| Eritrean Militia for Internal Security | |
|---|---|
| Milizia Eritrea per la Sicurezza Interna | |
 | |
| Active | 1968-present |
| Country |  Principality of Eritrea |
| Allegiance |  Italian Empire |
| Branch | M.V.S.N. |
| Type | Fascist militia |
| Role | Internal security |
| Size | 30,000 |
| Garrison/HQ | Asmara |
| Motto(s) | Anche se tutti, noi no |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Consul General Gioacchino Rossi |
The Eritrean Militia for Internal Security (Italian: Milizia Eritrea per la Sicurezza Interna, M.E.S.I) is the paramilitary militia of the Principality of Eritrea.
The Eritrean Militia for Internal Security is composed of citizens released from the national service. Italians and select Eritreans between the ages of 18 and 50 who are not currently engaged in national service must complete weapons training and accept the weapons and uniforms issued to them by the government.
The members of the M.E.S.I. keep their current jobs but they have to undertake military training prior to starting their function and are given an assault rifle with ammunition.
Name
The official name of the corps is Milizia Eritrea per la Sicurezza Interna. Due to the numerous languages in Eritrea, the only language used for official names is Italian, although every Italian name has unofficial translations in every language.
History
The Eritrean Militia for Internal Security is the direct evolution of the Colonial M.V.S.N. in Eritrea. In 195ì3, a Territorial Cohort of the M.V.S.N. was established in Eritrea. In 1936, the M.V.S.N. in Eritrea was expanded and reorganised as 2nd Legion "Ivo Oliveti" and placed under the 2nd Africa Legions Group.
Until the African War, the M.V.S.N. followed the unitary policy in Italian East Africa. Italy granted to its colonies the status of "Special Government Regions" in 1963. The Eritrean National Republican Guard was established in 1968 in order to provide Eritrea with a fully integrated indigenous force. At the same time, the Eritrean Militia for Internal Security was established by grouping all Eritrea-based M.V.S.N. and Italian Africa Police units not included into the Eritrean National Republican Guard itself or in the Eritrean Gendarmerie.
The newly-established Eritrean Militia for Internal Security mirrored the subdivisions of the Italian M.V.S.N. Nonetheless, it was a markedly different organisation, being in charge of active policing tasks. Until 1971, the M.E.S.I. maintained two Autonomous Detachments of the Port Militia in Massaua and Assab, as well as accepting Eritreans as full legionnaires.
In April 1974, with the instability of the neighbouring Arab countries following the Yom Kippur War, a government decision was passed establishing the M.E.S.I. as support organization for the Eritrean Gendarmerie. The enlargement of duties entrusted to the Eritrean Militia for Internal Security was in line with the Fascist doctrine in its bending toward an integration of the individual efforts within the overall guidance provided by the State through dedicated institutions.
During the 1970s, several specialist units were established. The Sniper Unit was set up in 1974, an Investigative Division was opened the following year, while the Traffic Auxiliary Unit was first organised independently by the Gendarmerie and then passed to the M.E.S.I. in 1980. The cohexistence between M.E.S.I. and Gendarmerie led to some friction. In order to appease the Gendarmerie, the Investigative Division was transformed in 1983 into the Information Service, tasked with contributing to intelligence gathering. In 1989, units close to border areas began to support the Border Guard of the Eritrean Gendarmerie, and in 1990 a dedicated speciality was established.
Early 1990s were marked by the return of the M.E.S.I. in the detective police work, albeit under a different strategy. In 1991, the Delinquency Prevention Unit was established as a fusion centre of the Gendarmerie, the M.E.S.I. and the Eritrean Lictor Youth (Gioventù Eritrea del Littorio, G.Er.L.). In the same years, the M.E.S.I. expanded its scope also with nonmilitary community assistance, in particular to weak and elderly populations, reception of new waves of Italian colonisation, etc.
In 1995 the Traffic Auxiliary Unit was reorganised into the Traffic Routes Protection Unit, with tasks more oriented to military traffic policing.
Mid 1990s marked the main shift of the M.E.S.I. towards a support police role. The regulations of the M.E.S.I. amended in 1996 stated that "the Gendarmerie may request the assistance of the Eritrean Militia for Internal Security, without prejudice for its security tasks, to preserve the safety of people and property". The regulations listed many areas in which the police may be assisted by the M.E.S.I.: "patrolling, traffic, detectives, maritime policing, tourism, casualty rescue, cavalry, assistance to the sabotage array and snipers." With the amendment of the regulations, the M.E.S.I. became more oriented to police work than counter-guerilla operations and its areas of activity were defined by law, including training, as a condition for the professional operation of the volunteer.
Early 2000s, with the Proclamation of the Principality and the US-led War on Terror, somewhat halted the expansion of police duties and reoriented the Eritrean Militia for Internal Security towards a renewed, albeit somewhat different from the past, counter-terrorist and political security role.
The security infrastructure includes: command and control, standby units, armed, motorised and foot patrols and a training routine. Over the decades, the M.E.S.I. shifted its role from a reserve organization to a security assistance and counter-terrorist force.
Mission
The Eritrean Militia for Internal Security is officially at the service of God and Italian Fatherland. The M.E.S.I. is tasked to protect and safeguard the Fascist Revolution, the Italian Empire and the Eritrean State, as well as to undertake various duties, from guarding public sites to contributing to development projects.
Members of the M.E.S.I. carry out tasks as patrols, guards or workers on national development projects. They are assigned tasks that range from guarding public sites, looking for petty crimes to undertaking development projects. Units meet regularly, one day per week or one week per month.
The M.E.S.I. is responsible for guarding Italian settlement villages from attacks, especially by Sudanese Arab gangs. The The M.E.S.I. also trains Italian settlers in counterterrorism techniques and the use of weapons to guard Italian outposts and settlements against terror attacks.
Organization
The Eritrean Militia for Internal Security is subordinated to the Lieutenant General of the Duce and it is governed by the Eritrean Fascist Coalition. The Eritrean Militia for Internal Security consists of five major components:
- Central Command: Command and Control, planning, coordination
- Mobile units: long-range and elite operations
- City units: self-defence and garrison duty, assistance to Army/Gendarmerie/Eritran Princely Guard. City units are organised by profession (e.g. teachers’ militia, artists’ militia, etc.) or by neighborhood.
- Village units: localised protection of rural settlements
- Training units: training and refresher courses
While Village units reflect the ethnic composition of their own settlement, other unit types are usually ethnically mixed. Each community has one or more M.E.S.I. units.
Territorial organisation
At each level of command of the Gendarmerie (national, provincial and district) a counterpart is determined in the M.E.S.I. (Commandant of the M.E.S.I., Commander of the M.E.S.I. Legion and Commander of the M.E.S.I. District Cohort). At the basic unit level, the Commander is determined in the city, and neighbourhood Commanders are appointed in the larger cities.
The Eritrean Militia for Internal Security is subdivided into Territorial Legions, having the same boundaries of the Provinces. All City and Village Units are organised into Cohorts, Centurie and Squads according their size.
The eight Legions are grouped into two Legions Groups, with headquarters in Asmara and Assab. Legions Groups also directly control training establishments whithin their jurisdiction.
Mobile units
The Eritrean Militia for Internal Security also has specialised units such as search-and-rescue teams, divers, translators, and drivers, whose members have to go through additional training and have a higher level of commitment. Such Mobile Units are tasked to augment capabilities of City/Village units. These Mobile Units depend on the relevant Legion or even the relevant community command.
The M.E.S.I. also maintains sniper, dune buggy, and mounted units. This second category, also known as Special Mobile Units, depends on the Central Command. Special Mobile Units consist of ca. 2,000 troops. Those Legionnaires keep equipment at home and are available for immediate action.
Training
For the Eritrean Militia for Internal Security places high priority on pre-military, security and military training, in order to provide a satisfying pool of recruits for other armed corps and for enabling its own units. By 2008 the M.E.S.I. had trained more than 100 "rapid response teams" of Italian settlers in Eritrea, mainly in the northern border regions.
Not counted among the on-duty shifts, training activity is scaled according need of different categories of the Legionnaires. Short military practices or training are held regularly, in some cases every two weeks.
The Italian National Royal Army provides assault rifles, and ammunition to authorized teams. Settlers with civilian gun licenses also carry personal handguns. The Italian Army and the Eritrean Princely Guard also allow the M.E.S.I. to use their bases for training. The training takes place over a year and involves marksmanship and fitness components.
Composition and service
The Eritrean Militia for Internal Security is composed mainly of volunteers who do patrols (in car or on foot). They go through basic training and have public security powers while on duty. They may apprehend a suspected person or make an arrest if necessary.
Its manpower consists mainly of civilian volunteers. Members are trained to provide the initial response to a security situation until regular Gendarmerie or Guard arrive. Most M.E.S.I. volunteers are armed with M1 carbines, or more recently, CAR-15 carbines, and personal handguns (if the member has a civilian gun license).
The M.E.S.I.'s equipment generally consists of black military fatigues, flashlight, radio, firearm, handcuffs and whatever else may be required particular to the assignment. Equipment is returned at the end of the shift.
Service
Within the Eritrean Militia for Internal Security there are three levels of service:
- Reserve Legionnaire: Reserve Legionnaires of the M.E.S.I. serve for about one shift a week (2 to 4+ hours), while the minimum requirement is 12 hours a month.
- Advanced Legionnaire: Advanced Legionnaires serve for three shifts a week, while the minimum requirement is 48 hours a month.
- Special Legionnaire: Special Legionnaires serve for at least 24 hours a week, while the minimum requirement is 80 hours a month. Special Volunteers receive advanced training and mostly serve in the Mobile Units. All Officers not in Permanent condition are Special Legionnaires.
- Permanent Legionnaire: Permanent Legionnaires serve full-time. All Senior Officers and the core staff of the Mobile Units are Permanent Legionnaires.