Ibrahim Coulibaly

A second coup, following 2000 elections that made Laurent Gbagbo President, saw Coulibaly in a leadership position, after which he came into conflict with fellow military leader Guillaume Soro.

During the ensuing eight years of division in the country, Coulibaly came into conflict with both sides, eventually returning to lead an Abidjan-based militia supportive of Alassane Ouattara.

[1] In the early 1990s, Coulibaly attracted attention within the military as a soldier and as a basketball player, and was promoted to the bodyguard unit of Prime Minister Alassane Ouattara.

[1] The contentious October 2000 elections, in which Ouattara was disqualified, thwarted Guéï's attempt to remain in power and made Laurent Gbagbo President of Côte d'Ivoire.

[1] In September 2002, Coulibaly returned to the north of Côte d'Ivoire, helping lead a partially successful coup against Gbagbo's government.

A clash on that night in Bouake led to the death of Seydou Traore, who the New Forces said was working for Coulibaly as the "central coordinator of the conspiracy".

[6] The French court found Coulibaly guilty of "heading or organising a group with mercenary objectives", and sentenced him in absentia to four years in prison on June 4, 2008.

[2] Based in the Abidjan neighborhood of Abobo, the militia calling itself "The Invisible Commandos" led a series of surprise raids against his forces.