| Country: | Cote d'Ivoire |
| Details of Formation: | The various groups were installed in 2005 by the government to help President Gbagbo stay in office after the first civil war. |
| Details of Termination: | The group was dismantled in 2008 with the Ouagadougou Accord that ended the civil war of 2002 to 2007. The National Committee for Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration promoted the group’s disintegration by attempting to reintegrate the members into the Ivorian society. Sources note that this attempt was not fully successful as the militias began to form again. |
| Purpose: | The Southwestern militia formed in 2005 to stabilize former President Gbagbo’s political power and to curb political opposition. |
| Organisation: | The Southwestern militia consisted of multiple groups that operated in the Southwest of Côte d’Ivoire such as the Front for the Liberation of the Greater West, AP-WE, the Greater West Resistance Union, the Movement for the Liberation of Western Cote d'Ivoire and the LIMA Force, Group of Patriots for Peace, Group of Fighters for the Liberation of Cote d'Ivoire, the Anti-Terrorist Forces, MI-24 and the Rapid Intervention Force. The militias were integrated into the regular army forces. |
| Weapons and Training: | The southwestern militia received training and operated as part of the military. |
| Size: | The Group of Fighters for the Liberation of Cote d'Ivoire was reported to have 2,000 members, while the Southwestern militias as a whole were reported to have 20,000 members. |
| Reason for Membership: | Children were recruited as militia members, but there is no information on why members joined the group. |
| Treatment of Civilians: | No information. |
| Other Information: | -- |
| References: | Check PGMD for evidence. |