Opération Licorne 2002-2011 2026

Operation Licorne 2002–2011: France in Combat in Côte d’Ivoire

In November 2002, Côte d’Ivoire —formerly a symbol of French-backed stability in Africa— erupted in conflict. A rebellion seized the north of the country. France urgently reinforced its units on the ground, launching Operation Licorne. Convoys raced north and west to secure and evacuate Western civilians (Crépuscule ivoirien), followed by the deployment of defensive positions to halt any rebel advance toward the south (Sagaie et VBL dans la danse and On ne force pas Calvi!). While the situation stabilized from early 2003 onwards, sudden flare-ups of violence led to clashes with either rebels or loyalist forces (Evacuation sanitaire blindée). The crisis came to an abrupt end in 2011, with final battles in Abidjan culminating in the arrest of Gbagbo. These five scenarios are designed for use with the En Pointe Toujours! ruleset, in its latest version adapted for modern combat. French soldiers, Ivorian rebels, armored vehicles, armed pickup trucks, rocket launchers, and missile launchers all feature in the action. Can you secure a victory for French arms? Will the rebels achieve their objectives despite the intervention of elite French troops?

Vae Victis 188 One counter = one command unit, combat squad, vehicle, or heavy weapon. One hex = 50 m. Scenario duration: 1 to 3 hours. Solitaire playability: 0/10. Difficulty: 4/10.