Mercenary troops

Name(s): 
Mercenaries
Condottieri
Use of mercenaries as a means of impeding right to self-determination
Incidence 
Over 60 mercenary troops from Sri Lanka attacked the Maldives on November 3, 1988 in an attempt to overthrow the government. The South African government is known to use mercenaries against Angola, the South West Africa People's Organization and the African National Congress. Mercenaries have helped to train teams of assassins for Columbian cocaine traffickers and their allies. Thirty French and Belgian mercenaries had a virtual control of the Comoro Islands for 11 years and killing 2 presidents. The Gurkha troops engaged in Nepal by the British Government for service in British colonies and territories may be considered as mercenaries of one form.
Claim 
Foreign forces used in the Gulf War, including those of the UK, were effectively mercenaries in that their assistance was paid for by Saudi Arabia and other governments.
Broader 
Illegal armed groups
Related 
Hired criminals
Hunting of humans
Unethical military practices
Violation of sovereignty by trans-border broadcasting
Aggravates 
Military atrocities [in 2 loops]
Inadequate government control of military [in 1 loop]
Aggravated by 
Errant nationals
Unlawful recruiting for and enlistment in foreign armed forces
Strategy(ies) 
Hiring mercenary troops
Providing mercenary troops
Reference(s) 
Mockler, Anthony: The New Mercenaries: the history of the hired soldier from the Congo to the Seychelles
United Nations: Thirty-Ninth Session supplement: report of the ad hoc committee on the drafting of an international convention against the recruitment, use, financing and training of mercenaries
Type 
(D) Detailed problems