Front for the Liberation of the Greater West (Cote d'Ivoire)

Country: Cote d'Ivoire
Details of Formation: The militia evolved in 2004 from self-defense groups in the West that formed against rebel attacks.
Details of Termination: President Gbagbo lost elections on 28 November, 2010 ans was arrested on 11 April 2011. President Ouattara from the former opposition assumed office after election-related crisis in May 2011. PGM members were said to have laid down their weapons after the Ouagadougou Political Agreement in March 2007 and were dismantled in November 2008. But there were reports on attacks by them until 2011, when Gbagbo was captured and imprisoned, so it seems as if he might have maintained the connection.
Purpose: The PGM developed as a self-defense group in the West of the country and attacked rebel forces and political opposition that acted against former President Gbagbo.
Organisation: The leader of the PGM was a member of the central committee of the Front Patriotic Ivorien and closely allied to the mayor of Guiglo.
Weapons and Training: During a disarmament ceremony in 2007, more than 1,200 weapons were confiscated.
Size: A special unit of the Front is reported to have 204 members, while the total militia had 10,000 members
Reason for Membership: Liberian refugees and child soldiers from Liberia’s civil war were recruited to fight.
Treatment of Civilians: No information.
Other Information: Seemingly synonymous or very closely linked with Resistance Forces of the Grand West, Ivorian Movement for the Liberation of the West of Cote d'Ivoire (no more information on these); ethnic membership inferred from close link of the leader to Gbagbo; ethnic target inferred from rebels they are fighting.
References: Check PGMD for evidence.