General information
First Active Year: 1986
Current Name: SLA
Current Name full English: Surinamese Liberation Army
Current Name full native language: n/a
Original Name: SLA
Original Name full English: Surinamese Liberation Army
Original Name full native language: n/a
Actor Chronology
This section contains information about (if applicable) group splinters, name changes, and alliances according to the UCDP definitions of these concepts.
UCDP has not recorded any Chronology Activities involving this group.
Conflict issues
Annual information
This section contains annual information systematically collected by the UCDP.
1987
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of Suriname - SLA
Group Archive
This section contains annual information no longer systematically collected by the UCDP.
1987 Group Archive
Government of Suriname - SLA
Comment on Name: The group was named SLA (Surinamese Liberation Army) but was generally called the Jungle Commando.
Troop Size: 200
Secondary Support: The insurgency in Suriname has some international links but there was no secondary support of either side in the conflict. However, Libya did support the government but little is really known to the extent of this assistance. Libya did send military personnel and military equipment in 1986. Some argued that the Libyan troops were in Suriname to fight alongside the government army. Others argue that the Libyan presence in Suriname consisted of military instructors ranging from six to 100 and not Libyan troops. The Suriname government denied reports that Libyan troops had arrived to help suppress the insurgency.On the rebel side, foreign mercenaries were known to have been working with the rebels since June 1986. Also, according to diplomats, France (as sovereign of French Guiana) did not make any efforts to prevent army shipment through its territory destined for the rebels. As a result, the Suriname government accused France/French Guiana of allowing the rebels to pass freely through their territory as well as giving the rebels other types of help. Some also argue that France helped supply the rebels.
