SUMMARY
The FLRN (Front pour la Libération et la Reconstruction Nationale: National Liberation and Reconstruction Front) was a rebel group that sought to overthrow the Government of Haiti under President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. It was established on 10 February 2004 and drew from two main social elements: anti-government gang members of the Revolutionary Artibonite Resistance Front (RARF) and former soldiers of the disbanded Haitian army.
RARF, also known as the Gonaïves Resistance Front and formerly known as the Popular Organization for the Development of Raboteau as well as the Cannibal Army, originally emerged in the 1980s as a pro-Aristide gang. It had often engaged in violence against anti-Aristide individuals and groups including the Front for the Advancement and Progress of Haiti (FRAPH), a notable paramilitary group that had attacked Aristide supporters whilst a military junta ruled between 1990 and 1994. However, RARF’s allegiance turned against President Aristide after a US-triggered, government crackdown resulted in the brief incarceration and eventual assassination of its leader Amiot Métayer in 2003. Suspecting government responsibility, the RARF began revolting against President Aristide and quickly captured its home base of Gonaïves on 5 February 2004. Other Aristide opponents quickly joined this revolt, including military personnel who had lost their positions and had their pensions suspended when the President had dismantled the military to bring it under civilian control. These ex-military members argued that this had been illegal and detrimental to society. Some had been living in exile in the Dominican Republic, engaged in drug-trafficking, or been plotting against President Aristide since 2000 as part of a group called the National Liberation Front. Several notable ex-military figures that joined FLRN had even been prominent FRAPH members previously. Hence, the FLRN was borne out of the unification of those disillusioned with the Haitian government under President Aristide.
According to Entienne, spokesperson for the FLRN, the group had more than 700 troops. Reportedly, 300 ex-soldiers were under the command of former Police Chief Guy Philippe whilst one of the FLRN group leaders, Louis-Jodel Chamblain, even claimed to have 5000 troops under his command.
FLRN had three key leader: Butteur Metayer, Louis-Jodel Chamblain and Guy Philippe. Butteur Métayer led the RARF elements after replacing his brother, Amiot, after he was murdered. Guy Philippe was a former Haitian army lieutenant, who had become a police chief after the army was disbanded by the government in 1995. He led the ex-military elements of FLRN along with Louis-Jodel Chamblain, who had been a member of the Tonton Macoutes paramilitary during the nearly three-decade long Duvalier government regime that lasted until 1986. Chamblain was also a co-founder of the FRAPH during the 1990 – 1994 military junta.
