A/HRC/17/48 13. The FANCI, which come under the authority of the Minister of Defence, consist of three forces: the army, the air force and the navy. To the knowledge of the Commission, the air force played no role in the events that occurred after the second round of the presidential election. As for the navy, only the marine commando units (FUMACO) seem to have been active during the events. 14. In the case of the ground forces placed under the command of General Firmin Detho Letho, it appears that only special units were involved in the events. These special units comprise: the ground-to-air artillery battalion (BASA); the command and support battalion (BCS); the parachute commando battalion (BCP); and the rapid intervention mobile unit (DMIR). 15. The Republican Guard (GR) has a special status. Composed of some 1,500 soldiers, it is directly subject operationally to the office of the President of the Republic. This elite force, consisting of three infantry regiments quartered in Abidjan, was placed under the command of General Dogbo Blé, who has been under arrest since 15 April and is being held in Korhogo. 16. The national gendarmerie also comes under the Ministry of Defence and numbers some 12,000 men. It is headed by the commanding officer of the gendarmerie, General Edouard Tiapé Kassaraté. 17. The national police comes under the Ministry of the Interior. It is headed by the director-general of the national police, M´Bia Brédou. During the crisis, there were a large number of defections within the police. 18. There are many different kinds of special or joint units. The Groupe de Sécurité de la Présidence de la République (GSPR) is responsible for the close protection of the President. It was under the command of Colonel Major Nathanaël Ahouman Brouha, who was assassinated on 4 May 2011 in Grand Lahou while being transferred to Abidjan. Traditionally headed by an army or gendarmerie commander, it is under the direct authority of the office of the President. 19. The Security Operations Command Centre (CECOS)2 was headed by the brigadier general of the gendarmerie, Georges Guiai Bi Poin, who left his post on Thursday March 2011. Its head of operations was superintendent Joachim Robe Gogo, who was arrested and handed over to the military prosecutor on 29 April 2011. B. Forces armées des forces nouvelles 20. The Forces armées des forces nouvelles (FAFN) were the army of the Forces nouvelles de Côte d'Ivoire, whose secretary-general was the current Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Guillaume Soro. They were organized along the lines of the national army, with General Soumaïla Bakayoko as Chief of Staff. Their headquarters was in 2 8 It was composed of five squadrons: CECOS I for the sector of Yopougon led by Commander Louis Kougougnon, using vehicles Nos. 11 to 19, CECOS II for the sector of Abobo, led by Commander Obenié Ouattara and using vehicles Nos. 21 to 26, CECOS III for the sector of Adjamé/Plateau/Attécoubé, using vehicles Nos. 31 to 36, CECOS IV for the sector of Cocody, using vehicles Nos. 41 to 49, and CECOS V for the sector of Koumassi, led by Captain Rodrigue Lobognon Zagba and using vehicles Nos. 51 to 59. GE.11-14375 (EXT)