Volunteer Militia for Libyan National Security

Volunteer Militia for Libyan National Security
ميليشيا الطوعي للأمن الوطني الليبي Milishia al-ttawei lil'amn al-watani al-Libi
The M.V.S.N. emblem
Active	1955 - present
Country	United Kingdom of Libya
Allegiance	Italian Empire
Branch	National security militia
Role	Internal Security
Size	25,000
Part of	M.V.S.N.
Headquarters	Tripoli
Commanders
Current commander	Consul General Amedeo Allaris

The Volunteer Militia for Libyan National Security (Arabic:ميليشيا الطوعي للأمن الوطني الليبي, Milishia al-ttawei lil'amn al-watani al-Libi, M.T.A.W.L.; Italian: Milizia Volontaria per la Sicurezza Nazionale Libica, M.V.S.N.L.) is the main extra-Italian branch of the M.V.S.N. in the Italian Empire. It is also the main source of Islamic Fascist personnel for Militia missions in the Arabic region. The mission of the 40,000 Militia, founded in 1955 as a separate branch collecting both the former Libyan Special Militia and local Fascist paramilitary units, is to provide territorial defence, and it is to function under the leadership of local military commanders and local party leaders. Militia units are reportedly generously equipped with arms, transport, and uniforms.

History

In September 1923 the Italian Government decided to send three Legions of the M.V.S.N. to Libya:

• the 132nd Legion "Monte Velino" (Avezzano);
• the 171st Legion "Vespri" (Palermo);
• the 176th Legion "Cacciatori Guide di Sardegna" (Cagliari).

They had no particular preparation for colonial life. Under the orders of Consul General Vernè, the soldiers distinguished themselves during the clashes of Beni Ulid, El Regima, El Zuetina and Got el Sass, contributing to the reconquest and pacification of the colony. The good proof offered by the Blackshirts in Libya prompted the government to make the presence of M.V.S.N. units permanent in the colony.

On May 1, 1924, two Permanent Libyan Legions were established, and assigned respectively:

• 1st Legion "Oea", located in Tripolitania
• 2nd Legion "Berenice", stationed in Cyrenaica

Each Legion consisted of 2 Cohorts. The two Legions, organised as infantry units, were under the disciplinary, administrative and operational dependencies of the Governor and the Troop Command of the relevant Colonies. Service in the Libyan Legions was equivalent, to all intents and purposes, to military service.

The recruitment of Officers was voluntary and national (i.e. limited to Metropolitan Italians) and was done by the General Command among the members of the M.V.S.N.; the recruitment of subofficers and troops was voluntary and national (i.e. limited to Metropolitan Italians), limited to members of the M.V.S.N. who had the required requisites for colonial service.

The Ordinary Militia units (i.e. not in permanent service) were:

• the Tripolina Cohort in Tripoli;
• the Cyrenaic Cohort in Bengasi.

On May 1, 1935, the Colonial Militia was reorganized. In fact, the M.V.S.N. Legion Group of Libya was formed, made up of:

• 1 Legion Group and 4 Legions:
  • Group Command
  • 1st Legion for Libya (based in Tripoli)
  • 2nd Legion for Libya (based in Misurata)
  • 3rd Legion for Libya (based in Bengasi)
  • 4th Legion for Libya (based in Derna)
  • 1 detachment of the Anti-aircraft and Coastal Militia
  • 1 Depot.

1940s were marked by serious international tension between Italy and the Allied Powers. In 1942, the Libyan Legion Group was reorganised and expanded:

• 1 Legion Group and 6 Legions:
  • Group Command
  • 1st Legion for Libya (Ordinary Militia, based in Tripoli)
  • 2nd Legion for Libya (Ordinary Militia, based in Misurata)
  • 3rd Legion for Libya (Ordinary Militia, based in Bengasi)
  • 4th Legion for Libya (Ordinary Militia, based in Derna)
  • 5th Legion "Oea" (Colonial Militia, based in Tripoli)
  • 6th Legion "Berenice" (Colonial Militia, based in Bengasi)
  • 1 detachment of the Anti-aircraft Militia
  • 1 detachment of the Coastal Militia
  • 1 Depot.

This organisation lasted for eight years.

African War

At the outbreak of the African War, in 1950, the M.V.S.N. already had in North Africa:

• 2 permanent Battalions (former Libyan Legions), placed, one per regiment, in the two African infantry regiments.
• 4 CC.NN. Battalions mobilised respectively by the four legions of M.V.S.N. of Libya.

On 10 June 1950 the deployment of the CC.NN. Divisions was this:

• I CC.NN. Division "23 Marzo". - East of Tripoli.
• II CC.NN. Division "28 Ottobre". - Tunisian front.
• IV CC.NN. Division "3 Gennaio". - West and South of Tobruk.

The first two divisions made up General Bergonzoli's XXIII Army Corps. The IV Division was part of the XXII Army Corps. under the orders of General Pitassi-Mannella.

After the war

The three CC.NN. Divisions fought valiantly in the African War and several heroic actions were recorded. The Armistice of 1953 saw the M.V.S.N. greatly expanded and deployng some indigenous units. With the 1954 organisation, the M.V.S.N. in Libya was organised into three separate branches: Colonial Militia, Ordinary Militia and Indigenous Militia. Each branch was organised into a separate Legion Group was directly commanded and administered by the Italian General Command.

The Colonial Militia grouped all standing units. Compared to the pre-war organisation, it was enlarged and upgraded, with four Battalion-level Legions, their services and two separate detachments for coastal and anti-aircraft artillery. Colonial Militia Legions were organised as infantry units and destined to form a single Regiment in case of war.

• Colonial Militia Legion Group:
  • Group Command;
  • 1st Legion "Oea", based in Tripoli
  • 2nd Legion "Berenice", based in Bengasi
  • 3rd Legion "Stella d'Africa", based in Misurata
  • 4th Legion "Cacciatori d'Africa", based in Derna
  • 5th Legion "Stella d'Italia", based in Tunisi
  • 1st Coastal Militia Detachment
  • 1st Anti-aircraft Militia Detachment

The Ordinary Militia consisted in all reserve units and formations. Its Legionnaires served on part-time and rotational basis. In case of war, five Legions would have formed five CC.NN. Battalions to be inserted into infantry regiments.

• Ordinary Militia Legion Group:
  • Group Command;
  • 1st Legion for Libya, based in Tripoli
  • 2nd Legion for Libya, based in Misurata
  • 3rd Legion for Libya, based in Bengasi
  • 4th Legion for Libya, based in Derna
  • 5th Legion for Libya, based in Sirte
  • 6th Legion for Libya, based in Tunisi

The Indigenous Militia grouped three Legions consisting of North African Libyans. Each Legion was on reserve duty.

• Indigenous Militia Legion Group:
  • Group Command;
  • 1st Indigenous Legion for Libya, based in Tripoli
  • 2nd Indigenous Legion for Libya, based in Sirte
  • 3rd Indigenous Legion for Libya, based in Bengasi

Unitary organisation

In 1955, only seven years after the establishment of the Italian National Republican Guard, a major overhaul of the Libyan M.V.S.N.-aligned forces was carried out. The Libyan Colonial Militia was merged with the Libyan Ordinary Militia, with the Libyan Indigenous Militia as well as other P.N.F. security services. The result was the establishment of the Milishia al-ttawei lil'amn al-watani al-Libi and of the Ḥaris al-‘Lybyia al-Jamhariyya, even despite the lack of Republican status of the then-colony.

After a series of reorganisations, in 1957 a new regulation was issued:

• M.T.A.W.L. Command
  • General Staff
• 1st Legion Group, in Tunisi: 3 Legions;
• 2nd Legion Group, in Tripoli: 4 Legions;
• 3rd Legion Group, in Bengasi: 3 Legions;
• 4th Legion Group, in Derna: 2 Legions.

Each Legion consisted of three Cohorts, one consisting of Libyans and two of Italians. Units were organised as light infantry units and were concentrated in major cities and deployed mainly in patrol and security missions.

In 1963, Libya was transformed in a "Special Government Region" and was granted more autonomy. In the 1960s, a partial indigenization began to be implemented. This policy implied the recruitment of Libyan African officers, which officially started in 1961.

In 1966, each Cohort manned by Libyan African Legionnaires was renamed as مجموعة Majmuea. In 1975, the Libyan Social Republic (Arabic: جماهيرية الاجتماعية الليبية al-Jamāhīrīyah al-Ajtimaeiat al-Lībīyah; Italian: Repubblica Sociale Libica) was established. This change was reflected in names. All Cohorts were renamed مجموعة Majmuea and Legions were renamed فيلق Faylaq. Besides these cosmetic changes, security apparatus (military police and corrections), logistics support, and administration organisations were set up.

Until recently, the Libyan M.T.A.W.L. was commanded by Italian officers, both born and grown up in Libya and coming from Italy. The current Commander is Major General Nouri Abusahmain, the second Commander of Libyan descent after Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi, who was also the first officer of Libyan descent to hold a General rank after being the Chief of Staff with the rank of Colonel. Under al-Gaddafi long tenure (1983-2008), Libyan officers could afford for the first time also General ranks.

Recent years

The Milishia al-ttawei lil'amn al-watani al-Libi was deeply involved in the suppression of the UK/USA-backed 2011 revolt and in the subsequent pacification and fight to migration flows from Subsaharian Africa to Northern Africa and the Mediterranean Sea.

In recent years, the M.T.A.W.L. provided several instructors and volunteers to the loyalist side of the Syrian Civil War.

Organisation

The Volunteer Militia for Libyan National Security is organized on provincial basis. Each Province is guarded by a 1,000-strong فيلق Faylaq (serving on part-time shifts).

The 25 Faylaq are organized into 4 Militia Brigades (الفرقة, Firqa):

• 1st M.T.A.W.L. Brigade, in Tripoli;
• 2nd M.T.A.W.L. Brigade, in Tunisi;
• 3rd M.T.A.W.L. Brigade, in Bengasi;
• 4th M.T.A.W.L. Brigade, in Sabha.

The areas of jurisdiction of the Brigades correspond to the four regions of Libya. The Sabha 4th M.T.A.W.L. Brigade, responsible for Fezzan surveillance, consists of few fixed units and highly mobile patrols, based on tribal subdivisions.

See also

• Libyan Royal Guard (Kingdom of Italy)
• Libyan Gendarmerie (Italian Empire)
• United Kingdom of Libya (Italian Empire)