SUMMARY
FN (Forces Nouvelles, New Forces) was created as an umbrella organisation for three Ivorian rebel groups; MPCI (Mouvement Patriotique de Côte dIvoire, Ivory Coast Patriotic Movement), MPIGO (Mouvement Populaire Ivoirien du Grand Ouest, Ivorian Popular Movement for the Great West) and MJP (Mouvement pour la Justice et la Paix, Movement for Justice and Peace). By 2004 these groups had completely merged, leaving FN as the sole actor on the rebel side. In accordance with peace agreements FN was part of the National Reconciliation government in early 2004 but after a violent break up of a demonstration by government forces in March the opposition again decided to leave. The opposition blamed the sitting president Gbagbo of poor implementation of the peace agreement from this time the group is seen as a separate actor from the government. In May President Gbagbo dismissed three opposition ministers among them Guillaume Soro leader of the Forces Nouvelles. following a peace agreement in 2007 the leader of FN, Guillaume Soro became Prime Minister.
FRCI (Forces Républicaines de Côte d’Ivoire: Republican Forces of Cote d’Ivoire) was created on 8 March 2011 by President Alassane Ouattara. Composed by the New Forces rebel group, elements of the regular army and volunteers, FRCI played a major role in the presidential dispute of 2010-2011.
During the Ivorian crisis of 2010/2011, the support for Alassane Ouattara was unquestionable in the rebellious north. While fighting raged in the economic capital of Abidjan, members of the New Forces prepared themselves for open conflict. After several months of violence throughout the country, the rebel movement launched an overnight assault on the city of Zouan Hounien on 25 February 2011. With the help of the newly appointed Prime Minister and New Forces leader Guillaume Soro, Ouattara created the Republican Forces of Ivory Coast by combining the strength of the rebels with smaller elements of the national army. The new army was further reinforced with an estimated 30 000 volunteers. On 17 March, Ouattara declared the Republican Forces as the official army of the Ivory Coast. However, UCDP does not consider FRCI as governmental forces until the fall of the capital on March 30. This is due to the fact that UCDP is only concerned with whom is controlling power in practice (de facto), indicated by the control over the capital. In a full-scale offensive the forces of Ouattara rapidly captured strategic cities including the capital of Yamoussoukro on March 30. In the final assault on Abidjan and the presidential palace, FRCI captured the rogue president Laurent Gbagbo on 11 April, ending the Ivorian crisis.
As head of State, the Republican Forces fall under the command of Alassane Ouattara. However, the President’s control over FRCI has been questioned at several occasions. FRCI has committed severe human rights abuses and is accused of causing more insecurity than security. Furthermore, former rebel leaders still have strong influence over previous New Forces members. Clashes between elements of FRCI under the command of former rebel commanders were reported in September.
FRCI has been involved in the state-based, non-state and one-sided categories of UCDP organised violence.
