Paper short abstract:

This paper analyzes the reformation of public services in the rebel zone of Côte d'Ivoire during the crisis, and the differences between the forms of government and the legitimization processes promoted in each public sector, depending on the regions and the actors involved.

Paper long abstract:

A rebel zone is not a social, political and economic vacuum. This paper draws upon a recent four-months fieldwork research in the former rebel zone in Northern Côte d'Ivoire, ruled by the Forces Nouvelles rebellion between 2002 and 2011. During that period, state institutions were recreated. The articulation of many different actors - rebels, civilians, state and transnational actors - led to a unique rebel government. This government was rooted in the different political historicities of each different rebel region - North, West and Center - but the context of conflict also brought new opportunities and shaped the reformation of the institutions.

By studying the different types of formation and regulation modes in each government sector - such as education or security -, we notice that all sectors were not equally important to the Forces Nouvelles. Rebel leaders had to take into account the presence of the Southern State in the regulation of some sectors, and decided which sector could better serve their own interests. Since international organizations were able to take care of it, Health was considered less important. On the contrary,Education was very important for a functioning school system could contribute to legitimize the rebellion and its leaders on the international level.

Besides, rebels also use civilians' representations and hopes in order to legitimize their leadership among civilians. They drew upon symbols and identities from local and national history that also contributed to shape the reformation of rebel institutions.