MODEL was based on the Force Spéciale pour la Libération du Monde Africain (LIMA) militia formed in September 2002 to defend Laurent Gbagbo's government against insurgents backed by Liberia's president Charles Taylor.
After fighting off the imminent threat, parts of LIMA crossed the border to Liberia to continue the war there.
With Taylor's forces already pressed against the larger Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD), MODEL quickly gained ground.
Its political leader, Thomas Nimely, was named as Liberia's foreign minister in the transitional government that was appointed on October 14, 2003, following the resignation and exile of Taylor.
The group may have exported timber from regions of southern Liberia under its control, which would have been a violation of United Nations sanctions.