SUMMARY
The FDSI – CI (Forces de Défense et de Sécurité Impartiales de Côte d`Ivoire; also known as Invisible Commandos) was a rebel group that sought to overthrow the Government of Ivory Coast under the regime of President Laurent Gbagbo. It emerged at the end of 2010 and fought until its leader, Ibrahim Coulibaly, was killed in April 2011 (for more information, see Government of Ivory Coast – FDSI – CI. Following this, the group disintegrated and many of its fighters joined the government military forces under the new government regime of President Alassane Ouattara.
The primary objective of FDSI – CI was to end the suffering of the population and restore democracy to Ivory Coast. Consequently, it endorsed Alassane Ouattara, in line with the Independent Electoral Commission and international community, as the legitimately elected new president following the 2010 elections and rejected the continuing rule of incumbent President Gbagbo.
Based in Abobo, the northern suburb of the capital Abidjan, FDSI – CI began fighting government forces to protect the pro-Ouattara areas within its stronghold. The FDSI – CI was composed of defected elements from the regular army, volunteers and former members of fellow rebel group FRCI. It used guerrilla warfare and organized roadblocks to retaliate and prevent government security forces and pro-Gbagbo militias from entering the protected pro-Ouattara neighborhoods. By looting the bodies of killed enemies, its weaponry rapidly evolved from machetes and small arms to automatic rifles and rocket-launchers.
While the FDSI-CI claimed to comprise several thousands of troops scattered throughout the country, the Government of Ivory Coast under Laurent Gbagbo estimated that the troop size of the FDSI-CI only reached 500 troops. Due to the number of different groups that were fighting in the presidential dispute, estimations are difficult. However, the estimation made by the Government seems to be the most reliable.
Leadership of the FDSI-CI was claimed by Ibrahim Coulibaly, a well-known character in the violent past of the Côte d'Ivoire. Previously a member of the national armed forces and a bodyguard to Ouattara during his time as prime-minister, Coulibaly changed direction at the death of former president Houphouët Boigny. In the years following the event, Ibrahim Coulibaly became known for his leadership within the FRCI – at the time FN (Forces Nouvelles) – and his splinter faction FN- IC, for his involvement in the successful coup against then-President Konan Bedié in 1999 and his numerous coup attempts against President Laurent Gbagbo.
Ambiguity surrounded the connections between FDSI – CI and other anti-Gbagbo groups operating at the time including the FRCI, although the FRCI publicly denied any links to the group.
