Military

Mouvement Populaire Ivoirien du Grand Ouest (MPIGO)

The Mouvement Populaire Ivoirien du Grand Ouest (MPIGO) emerged in late November 2002 when it captured the cities of Man and Danane, both located in the western part of the country, with Danane lying near the Liberian border and home to thousands of Liberian refugees.

MPGIO claimed its aim was to avenge the September assassination of former military ruler General Robert Guei, a member of Ivory Coast's western Yacouba ethnic group and overthrow the government of President Gbagbo. Ivory Coast Yacoubas have close cultural ties to people of the Gio tribe in neighboring Liberia. English-speaking, members of the MPIGO were widely believed to be Liberians.

On December 20, 2002, it was announced that the Ivorian Popular Movement for the Far West, had taken control of the town of Bangolo in the west of the country, which is just 40 kilometers south of the strategic city of Man.

It met on December 23, 2002, with the MPCI and the MJP rebel groups to announce an alliance against French troops located in the country, should they stand in their way.