General information
First Active Year: 1980
Current Name: FMLN
Current Name full English: Farabundo Marti Front for National Liberation
Current Name full native language: Frente farabundo Marti para la liberación nacional
Original Name: DRU
Original Name full English: Unified Revolutionary Directorate
Original Name full native language: Direción Revolucionaria Unificada
Actor Chronology
This section contains information about (if applicable) group splinters, name changes, and alliances according to the UCDP definitions of these concepts.
Name Change: From DRU to FMLN
On: 1980-10-10
Conflict issues
Government of El Salvador - FMLN
Conflict Goal Issues: FMLN (Frente Farabundo Marti para la Liberación Nacional)(/#/actor/755) was a Marxist-Leninist rebel group in El Salvador(/#/country/092) that fought the Salvadoran government(/#/actor/013) in an armed conflict(/#/conflict/316) from 1980, the year of its formation, to 1992, when it ceased its activities as a rebel group and was transformed into a Salvadoran political party. The dyad here presented (Government-FMLN)(/#/dyad/697) was mainly analyzed from 1989 to 1991, when the group was most active according to the coding rules, but it is worth noting that the group was active before 1989. The first clear demands by FMLN that were coded date back to 1987, when the group stated its desires around the establishment of a provisional government, which would then conduct general elections. For this to happen, it is possible to identify the relevance of deposing the executive. The year of 1989 is relevant because of Alfredo Cristiani’s election as the new president, representing the new political party Alianza Republicana Nacionalista (ARENA) – in his inaugural speech Cristiani made conciliatory references and opened up for negotiations in order to settle the decade long civil war, but after a few attempts efforts were not fruitful. FMLN demanded civil rights and participation, still requiring reforms and the recognition as a political party defending the change of the political system to a socialist one. The following year was of high relevance because of the involvement of the UN in the negotiation process, as the rebel group used this opportunity to present more of its demands – recognition of rights, reforms in the political system, including in the military, judicial, and the parliamentary. The signing of the Geneva Accords was the start of a process that was finally to conclude the FMLN insurrection in El Salvador, but it would only be concluded in January of 1992 with the Chapultepec Peace Accords. Still, transitioning from a rebel group to a political party, many of the demands remained.
Among the many stated conflict goals that can be perceived since the creation of the rebel group in 1980, and specially with the escalation of activities in 1989, the main issue regards state structures and the quality of governance – more specifically a change of political system focused on the reform and restructuring of many areas, such as the judiciary and security sector.
Conflict Dynamics Issues: In regards to conflict dynamic issues, the data collected is mainly concentrated in the years of 1989 and 1990, the latter being marked by the decrease of violent acts because of the presence of the UN and the beginning of negotiations. The declarations by the rebel group, when it comes to conflict dynamic issues, focused on the participation of foreign entities. FMLN demanded the decrease of United States involvement, for example, as they were seen as “an obstacle to peace”. On the other hand, the group asked for the increase of international involvement in regards to humanitarian aid and international monitoring and support. After the signing of the Agreement on Human Rights in 1990, FMLN demanded attention to issues regarding atrocities and abuses on the part of the government during the conflict. Among the many stated conflict dynamics issues, it is necessary to highlight the participation of foreign entities, with the rebel group demanding the increase of the involvement of some actors, but the decrease of the involvement of other actors. As was stated by the rebel group “The FMLN has been supporting the principle that the solution has to be found among Salvadorans”, refusing the participation of actors that did not want to contribute to the peace processes.
Conflict Resolution Issues: The main conflict resolution issue that was coded regards transitional justice and liability, more specifically the issue of accountability and prosecution. Still, it is worth noting the importance of the category of Negotiations, Ceasefires and Peace Accords, as after 1990 the negotiations process was essential for the end of the conflict.
Type of conflict issues: Conflict Goal Issues:
Basic needs,
Change economic system,
Childrens rights,
Civil rights,
Constitutional issues,
Corruption,
CPS: Democracy,
CPS: Socialist state,
Decentralization,
Economic reforms,
Electoral reform,
Foreign policy reform,
Freedom of association,
Freedom of expression,
Gender rights,
Hold elections,
Human rights,
Labor rights,
Land reforms,
Oust full executive,
Protection of natural resources/the environment,
Recognition as a political party,
Reform judicial system,
Reform parliament,
Restructure military forces,
Restructure police forces,
Security sector power-sharing
Conflict Dynamics Issues: Atrocities and abuses, DFI: Removal of foreign influence, DFI: Withdrawal of military support, IFI: Humanitarian aid, IFI: International monitoring, IFI: Use of foreign influence
Conflict Resolution Issues: Accountability/prosecution/investigation, Call for negotiations, Compensation/restoration, National dialogue, Peace agreement implementation, Structure of negotiations
Annual information
This section contains annual information systematically collected by the UCDP.
1980
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of El Salvador - FMLN
1981
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of El Salvador - FMLN
1982
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of El Salvador - FMLN
1983
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of El Salvador - FMLN
1984
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of El Salvador - FMLN
1985
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of El Salvador - FMLN
1986
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of El Salvador - FMLN
1987
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of El Salvador - FMLN
1988
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of El Salvador - FMLN
1989
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of El Salvador - FMLN
1990
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of El Salvador - FMLN
1991
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of El Salvador - FMLN
Group Archive
This section contains annual information no longer systematically collected by the UCDP.
1980 Group Archive
Government of El Salvador - FMLN
Comment on Name: Frente farabundo Marti para la liberación nacional, Farabundo Marti Front for National Liberation
FPL, ERP, FARN, and PCS joined forces in May 1980 and formed DRU. In October the same year PRTC decided to join the group and it was renamed Frente Farabundo Martí para la Liberación Nacional (FMLN) after the leader of the 1930s uprising by coffee plantation workers.
Comment on Active: With the formation of the FMLN the groups became stronger and started to work more coordinated against the government which resulted in a situation where the government troops were seriously stretched in their attempts to hold the guerrillas back.
Troop Size: 8 000
Secondary Support: There are different claims on how important the support from the Communist bloc and Cuba was but it has been claimed that there might even not have been any unification if not for the support from Cuba
1981 Group Archive
Government of El Salvador - FMLN
Comment on Name: Frente farabundo Marti para la liberación nacional, Farabundo Marti Front for National Liberation
Comment on Active: After the creation of FMLN in 1980 when several guerrilla groups united the group was strengthened in 1981 as the FDR, a coalition of oppositional political parties, joined the organisation. In January FMLN launched a major offensive which was responded to by death squads in the launch of El Salvador’s ‘dirty war’.
Troop Size: 5 000
Comment on Troop Size: Active guerrillas
Secondary Support: Following the formation of FMLN-FDR Mexico and France recognised the group as a representative political entity.The united guerrilla forces were also recipients of support from leftist governments all over the world. In particular weapons were brought in to support FMLN from Nicaragua.
1982 Group Archive
Government of El Salvador - FMLN
Comment on Name: Frente farabundo Marti para la liberación nacional, Farabundo Marti Front for National Liberation
Comment on Active: continuing on the offensive that was started in 1981 FMLN also focused much of its attention on trying to stop the upcoming elections, or at least make them more difficult to carry them out
Troop Size: 5 000
Comment on Troop Size: According to some reports, the number of rebels ranged between 4,000 and 5,000; other sources put the number at between 6,000 and 9,000
Secondary Support: The united guerrilla forces were recipients of support from leftist governments all over the world. In particular weapons were brought in to support FMLN through Nicaragua. Cuba, the USSR and Vietnam supplied both western-made and eastern bloc weaponry, usually shipped through Cuba and Nicaragua. There was significant political support throughout the Eastern Bloc.
1983 Group Archive
Government of El Salvador - FMLN
Comment on Name: Frente farabundo Marti para la liberación nacional, Farabundo Marti Front for National Liberation
Comment on Active: The FMLN was had grown substantially and was building up something similar to regular armies. The concentration of its forces however proved to be negative in the long run as they became very vulnerable to attack from the improving army of El Salvador, especially from the air. By late 1983 FMLN was starting to realise that the large quantities of munitions and supplies were putting the support they already had to a strain.
Troop Size: 8 500
Secondary Support: The united guerrilla forces were recipients of support from leftist governments all over the world. In particular weapons were brought in to support FMLN through Nicaragua. Cuba, the USSR and Vietnam supplied both western-made and eastern bloc weaponry, usually shipped through Cuba and Nicaragua. There was significant political support throughout the Eastern Bloc.
1984 Group Archive
Government of El Salvador - FMLN
Comment on Name: Frente farabundo Marti para la liberación nacional, Farabundo Marti Front for National Liberation
Comment on Active: From early 1984 FMLR adopted a new military strategy that was based on operations in smaller groups compared to the large scale, almost like regular army, type of strategy that had been used before.
Troop Size: 10 500
Secondary Support: The united guerrilla forces were recipients of support from leftist governments all over the world. In particular weapons were brought in to support FMLN through Nicaragua. Cuba, the USSR and Vietnam supplied both western-made and eastern bloc weaponry, usually shipped through Cuba and Nicaragua. There was significant political support throughout the Eastern Bloc.
1985 Group Archive
Government of El Salvador - FMLN
Comment on Name: Frente farabundo Marti para la liberación nacional, Farabundo Marti Front for National Liberation
Troop Size: 6 000
Secondary Support: The united guerrilla forces were recipients of support from leftist governments all over the world. In particular weapons were brought in to support FMLN through Nicaragua. Cuba, the USSR and Vietnam supplied both western-made and eastern bloc weaponry, usually shipped through Cuba and Nicaragua. There was significant political support throughout the Eastern Bloc.
1986 Group Archive
Government of El Salvador - FMLN
Comment on Name: Frente farabundo Marti para la liberación nacional, Farabundo Marti Front for National Liberation
Comment on Active: The conflict continued at high level in 1986. President Duarte made some attempts to start negotiations with the guerrillas but FMLN were still convinced of a forthcoming victory while
Troop Size: 6 000
Secondary Support: The united guerrilla forces were recipients of support from leftist governments all over the world. In particular weapons were brought in to support FMLN through Nicaragua. Cuba, the USSR and Vietnam supplied both western-made and eastern bloc weaponry, usually shipped through Cuba and Nicaragua. There was significant political support throughout the Eastern Bloc.
1987 Group Archive
Government of El Salvador - FMLN
Comment on Name: Frente farabundo Marti para la liberación nacional, Farabundo Marti Front for National Liberation
Troop Size: 5 000
Secondary Support: The united guerrilla forces were recipients of support from leftist governments all over the world. In particular weapons were brought in to support FMLN through Nicaragua. Cuba, the USSR and Vietnam supplied both western-made and eastern bloc weaponry, usually shipped through Cuba and Nicaragua. There was significant political support throughout the Eastern Bloc.
1988 Group Archive
Government of El Salvador - FMLN
Comment on Name: Frente farabundo Marti para la liberación nacional, Farabundo Marti Front for National Liberation
Troop Size: 5 000
Secondary Support: The united guerrilla forces were recipients of support from leftist governments all over the world. In particular weapons were brought in to support FMLN through Nicaragua. Cuba, the USSR and Vietnam supplied both western-made and eastern bloc weaponry, usually shipped through Cuba and Nicaragua. There was significant political support throughout the Eastern Bloc.
1989 Group Archive
Government of El Salvador - FMLN
Comment on Name: Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN - named after a peasant leader killed in 1932) a coalition of 5 groups: Peoples Revolutionary Army (APR), Popular Liberation Forces (FPL), Armed Forces of National Resistance (FARN or RN), Revolutionary Party of Central American Workers (PRTC), Armed Foreces of Liberation (FAL).
In 1980 when FMLN was formed they also created a political wing: Frente Democrático Revolucionario (FDR - Democratic Revolucionary Front).
Troop Size: 6000 - 7000
Comment on Troop Size: Number of combatants
Secondary Support: The united guerrilla forces were recipients of support from leftist governments all over the world. In particular weapons were brought in to support FMLN through Nicaragua. Cuba, the USSR and Vietnam supplied both western-made and eastern bloc weaponry, usually shipped through Cuba and Nicaragua. There was significant political support throughout the Eastern Bloc.
1990 Group Archive
Government of El Salvador - FMLN
Comment on Name: Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front a coalition of 5 groups: Peoples Revolutionary Army (APR),, Popular Liberation Forces (FPL), Armed Forces of National Resistance (FARN or RN), Revolutionary Party of Central American Workers (PRTC), Armed Foreces of Liberation (FAL).
In 1980 when FMLN was formed they also created a political wing: Frente Democrático Revolucionario (FDR - Democratic Revolucionary Front).
Troop Size: 6000 - 7000
Comment on Troop Size: Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front a coalition of 5 groups: Peoples Revolutionary Army (APR),, Popular Liberation Forces (FPL), Armed Forces of National Resistance (FARN or RN), Revolutionary Party of Central American Workers (PRTC), Armed Foreces of Liberation (FAL).
Secondary Support: The united guerrilla forces were recipients of support from leftist governments all over the world. In particular weapons were brought in to support FMLN through Nicaragua. Cuba, the USSR and Vietnam supplied both western-made and eastern bloc weaponry, usually shipped through Cuba and Nicaragua. There was significant political support throughout the Eastern Bloc.
1991 Group Archive
Government of El Salvador - FMLN
Comment on Name: Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front a coalition of 5 groups: Peoples Revolutionary Army (APR),, Popular Liberation Forces (FPL), Armed Forces of National Resistance (FARN or RN), Revolutionary Party of Central American Workers (PRTC), Armed Foreces of Liberation (FAL).
In 1980 when FMLN was formed they also created a political wing: Frente Democrático Revolucionario (FDR - Democratic Revolucionary Front).
Troop Size: 6000 - 7000
Comment on Troop Size: Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front a coalition of 5 groups: Peoples Revolutionary Army (APR),, Popular Liberation Forces (FPL), Armed Forces of National Resistance (FARN or RN), Revolutionary Party of Central American Workers (PRTC), Armed Foreces of Liberation (FAL).
Secondary Support: The united guerrilla forces were recipients of support from leftist governments all over the world. In particular weapons were brought in to support FMLN through Nicaragua. Cuba, the USSR and Vietnam supplied both western-made and eastern bloc weaponry, usually shipped through Cuba and Nicaragua. There was significant political support throughout the Eastern Bloc.
