Throughout the Corsican conflict, there were a large number of paramilitary and guerrilla organizations that formed, both to combat French rule and support it. Many of these groups had feuds with other irregular formations, and waged small conflicts between themselves, along with the French government. It is important to note that the name “National Liberation Front of Corsica” (Corsican: Fronte di Liberazione Naziunale di a Corsica, FLNC) is used by many Corsican nationalist formations to claim the legacy of the original FLNC, an organization that led a guerrilla war against the French from 1976 to 1988, similar to Irish Republican Army splits. This list will be divided into time periods to better organize information. This list will provide both native Corsican or French names and their English translations.
Before the FLNC formed, many armed groups were already leading small-scale insurgencies across Corsica. Many formed in protest of the pied-noirs, who were buying up the only arable land from Corsica while fleeing the Algerian war, and many regionalists were fighting for Corsican representation as a French region (Corsica was part of Provence-Alpes-Côté d’Azur until 1975).
| Movement of 29 November | Muvimentu di u 29 Nuvembri | M29N | 29 November 1959 – 27 October 1963 | Communist[1] | Separatist. | |
| Committee of Action and Promotion of Corsica | Cumitatu d’Azzione è Prumuzione di a Corsica | CAPCO | 27 October 1963-May 1967 | Communist | Direct descendant of the M29N, formed through a reorganization of the M29N.[2] | |
| Corsican Committee for Independence | Comitatu Corsu Per l’Indipendenza | CCI | 1961-1963 | Far-right | Separatist. Contacted Pied-Noir terrorists and signed agreements with the OAS. | |
| Corsican Union for the Future | Unione Corsa - L’Avvene | UC-A | Late 1964-31 July 1966 | Far-left | Regionalist. | |
| Committee of Students for the Defense and Interests of Corsica | Cumitatu di Studenti per a Difesa è Interessi di a Corsica | CEDIC | April 1964-31 July 1966 | Right-wing | Regionalist. | |
| Corsican Regionalist Front | Fronte Regiunalista Corsa | FRC | 31 July 1966-July 1973 | No specific ideology until ARC split; Left-wing from September 1967 onwards | Regionalist. | |
| Corsican Regionalist Action | Azzione Regiunalista Corsa | ARC | September 1967-July 1973 | Right-wing | Regionalist. Former CEDIC members who split from the FRC in September 1967 due to ideological disagreements with the former members of the UC-A. | |
| Action for the Corsican Rebirth | Azzione per la Rinascita Corsa | ARC | July 1973-February 1976 | No specific ideology | Autonomist. Renaming and reorganization of the ARC; led the Aleria Standoff in August 1975. | |
| Association of Corsican Patriots | Associu di i Patriotti Corsi | APC | February 1976-31 July 1977 | No specific ideology | Renaming of the ARC to avoid police detection; dissolved to become a political party (the UPC) in 1977. | |
| Free Corsica | Corsica Libera | CL | Late 1967/Early 1968-late 1968 | No specific ideology; anti-gaullist | Separatist. Not to be confused with Corsica Libera (2008–present), the political wing of the FLNC-UC. | |
| Corsican Peasant Front for Liberation | Fronte Paesanu Corsu per Liberazione | FPCL | 15 September 1973 – 5 May 1976[3] | Communist | Separatist. Declared an illegal militia on 30 January 1974.[4] | |
| Paolina Justice | Ghjustizia Paolina | GP | 22 March 1974 – 5 May 1976 | Far-Left | Separatist. Named after leader of the Corsican Republic Pasquale Paoli. | |
| Justice of Sampiero | Justice de Sampiero | JS | May 1974-6 April 1977 | Far-right | Anti-Separatist. Named after Sampiero Corso. | |
| Corsican Justice | Ghjustizia Corsa | GC | November 1974-September 1975 | Unknown | Separatist. | |
| Justice and Liberty | Justice et Liberté, Ghjustizia è Libertà | JL | September 1975-6 April 1977 | Far-right | Anti-Separatist. Largest anti-separatist organization before the formation of FRANCIA. | |
| Corsican Revolutionary Front | Fronte Rivuluzionariu Corsu | FRC | September–October 1975 | Unknown | Separatist. | |
| Corsican Revolutionary Commandos | Commando Rivuluzionarii Corsi | CRC | September–December 1975 | Unknown | Separatist. | |
| Corsican Anti-Italian Front | Front Corse Anti-Italiens | FCAI | October 1975-July 1976 | Far-right | Anti-Separatist. Unknown if the name refers to Italians in general or if it refers to Corsicans as Italians. | |
| Morandine Justice | Justice Morandine/Ghjustizia Morandina | JM/GM | November–December 1975 | Unknown | Anti-Separatist. Named after General Morand, a Napoleonic general placed in charge of suppressing revolts in Corsica in the early 1800s. | |
| Anti-Italian League | Ligue Anti-Italien | LAI | January–February 1976 | Far-right | Anti-Separatist. The same naming situation as the FCAI. |
The 12-year period of large-scale FLNC activity only involved a limited number of groups due to the FLNC being a strong and uniting force. This would end with a ceasefire that broke the FLNC and an era of factionalism in the 1990s.
| National Liberation Front of Corsica | Fronte di Liberazione Naziunale di a Corsica | FLNC | 5 May 1976 – 17 October 1990 | Far-left | Separatist. Largest and most famous group in the Corsican conflict. Waged a guerrilla war for 12 years. The FLNC went on ceasefire after François Mitterand won reelection, causing anti-ceasefire activists to leave and break apart the organization. | |
| Free France-Corsica | France-Corse Libre | FCL | October–November 1976 | Unknown | Anti-Separatist. | |
| New Action Front against Independence and Autonomy | Front d’Action Nouvelle Contre l’Indépendance et l’Autonomie | FRANCIA | 6 April 1977-Late 1983 | Far-right | Largest anti-separatist group in the Corsican conflict. Operated with French military support.[5] | |
| Corsican Revolutionary Brigade | Brigata Rivuluzionaria Corsa | BRC | January 1983 – 1986 | No specific ideology | Local to the Grand Ajaccio area. |
In 1988, after the ceasefire with Mitterand broke apart the FLNC, many groups began to rise from the original FLNC and claim to be the legitimate successors of the organization. This era begins the widespread use of “National Liberation Front of Corsica” being used in separate group names to claim heritage.
| Resistance | Resistenza | Resistenza | 24 October 1989-May 2003 (On ceasefire from June 1996) | Far-left | Separatist; first split of the FLNC. Despite being anti-ceasefire, Resistenza allied with the pro-ceasefire FLNC-CA for two years to oppose the hypermilitarism of the FLNC-CS. Switched sides in 1992. Denounced violence and went on permanent ceasefire until their self-dissolution in 2003. | |
| The Punishment | U Castigu | U Castigu | 17 May–June 1990 | Unknown | Anti-Separatist. Local to Porticcio. Dismantled by FLNC militants. | |
| National Liberation Army of Corsica | Armata di Liberazione Naziunale di a Corsica | ALNC | August–November 1990 | Far-left | Separatist. Split from the FLNC. Rejoined the FLNC after a brief guerrilla campaign based around the town of Corte. | |
| National Liberation Front of Corsica-Habitual Channel | Fronte di Liberazione Naziunale di a Corsica-Canale Abituale | Canal Habituel, FLNC-CA | 17 October 1990 – 27 January 1997 (On ceasefire since 4 May 1996) | No specific ideology | Autonomist. Formed from the remnants of the pro-ceasefire sector of the FLNC. Mostly friendly to France throughout its existence, going to war with the FLNC-CS. Announced a ceasefire and internal collapse in 1996, self-dissolved in 1997. | |
| National Liberation Front of Corsica-Historic Channel | Fronte di Liberazione Naziunale di a Corsica-Canale Storicu | Canal Historique, FLNC-CS | 25 November 1990 – 23 December 1999 | Far-left | Separatist. De facto existed through FLNC dissidents as early as September 1988. Largest FLNC split; anti-ceasefire. Known for radical militancy and hard-hitting attacks. War with the FLNC-CA lasted until 1996, FLNC-CA dissolution occurred a year later. War with an FLNC-CS split, Armata Corsa, caused unification with other groups to form the FLNC-UC. | |
| Enough Drugs | A Droga Basta | ADB | November 1990-December 1995 | No specific ideology | Separatist. Largely an anti-drug dealer/anti-mafia group, ADB had connections to the FLNC-CS throughout its existence. | |
| Independence | Indipendenza | Indipendenza | December 1992-January 1993 | Unknown | Separatist. Local to Ajaccio. | |
| Corsican Armed Revolutionary Front | Fronte Armatu Rivuluzionariu Corsu | FARC | 8 January 1993 – 9 December 2005 | No specific ideology | Separatist. Along with another armed group, the APC, the FARC declared a “provisional government” of the Corsican Republic in 2006.[6] | |
| Corsican Justice | Ghjustizia Corsa | GC | 17 September 1993 – 1994(?) | Unknown | Separstist. Only a few known actions, including an attack on France3's Ajaccio headquarters.[7] | |
| Rebel Front | Fronte Ribellu | Fronte Ribellu, FR | 5 December 1995 – 23 December 1999 | Far-left | Split of the FLNC-CS. Split over the FLNC-CS's approach of war with the FLNC-CA before war with the government. Despite this, Fronte Ribellu found itself in a factional war with the FLNC-CS until 1999. Formed the FLNC-UC with other groups in December 1999.[8] | |
| National Liberation Front of Corsica-5 May | Fronte di Liberazione Naziunale di a Corsica-5 Maghju | FLNC-5M | 5 May 1996 – 23 December 1999 | Far-left | Separatist. Split from the FLNC-CA after the organization announced an “imminent end to armed struggle”. Continued the fight with the FLNC-CS. Formed the FLNC-UC with other groups in 1999.[9] | |
| Sampiero | Sampieru | Sampieru | 15 September 1997 – 1998 | Unknown | Likely separatist. Committed 2 bombings in Pietrosella and one in Strasbourg. Only ever released one press conference.[10] | |
| Corsican University | Università Corsa | Università Corsa | October–November 1997 | Unknown | Separatist. Targeted professors at the University of Corsica Pasquale Paoli. | |
| Corsican Army | Armata Corsa | AC | 25 June 1999-September 2001 | Far-left | Split from the FLNC-CS, when southern division leader François Santoni and Balagne brigade leader Jean-Michel Rossi left the organization due to personal quarrels. The organization went to war with every other nationalist armed group present on the island at the time, which caused them all to unite against the AC and form the FLNC-UC. Disbanded a month after Santoni was shot to death by a mafioso.[11] | |
| Corsican Patriot Front | Fronte Patriottu Corsu | FPC | 8 October 1999-August 2000 | Unknown | Separatist. Unlike many groups, the FPC began discussions with the state to secure autonomy agreements. Self-dissolved in August 2000.[12] | |
| Clandestine | Clandestinu | Clandestinu | 25 November-23 December 1999 | No specific ideology | Separatist. Only existed for a month before founding the FLNC-UC with other organizations. | |
| National Liberation Front of Corsica-Union of Combattants | Fronte di Liberazione Naziunale di a Corsica-Unione di i Cumbattenti | FLNC-UC | 23 December 1999 – present (disarmed from June 2014 to 21 March 2023) | Far-left | Separatist. Largest FLNC group since the original. Originally by the FLNC-CS, FLNC-5M, Fronte Ribellu, and Clandestinu to combat Armata Corsa, but continued to operate as a united front against the French government after Armata Corsa's dissolution. Operated a harsh guerrilla campaign until June 2014, when it disarmed to allow a political solution. Rearmed a year after the death of Yvan Colonna, and has since committed a number of attacks, although not nearly to the pace of the pre-2014 organization.[13] | |
| Corsican Republican Army | Armata Republicana Corsa | ARC | 2 August 2000 – 2001 | Unknown | Separatist.[14] | |
| National Liberation Front of Corsica of the Anonymous | Fronte di Liberazione Naziunale di a Corsica di i Anonimi | FLNC-A | 6 July 2001-September 2002 | Far-left | Separatist. Proxy group of the FLNC-UC. Dissolved (likely joined the FLNC-UC) in September 2002.[15] |
After the September 11th attacks increased paranoia of Islamist movements attacking Corsica drove many small, far-right armed groups to form to drive Muslims out of Corsica through intimidation and armed attack. These groups were notably opposed by the FLNC, who feuded with some of them. At the same time, the FLNC-UC was going through a period of instability when many members founded a rival group, the FLNC-22 of October (FLNC-22U).
| Corsican Secret Organization | Organisazione Sicreta Corsa | OSC | April 2002 – 2006 | Far-right | Anti-Arab. The Name “Secret Organization” is likely a reference to the OAS. Local to the Balagne region.[16] | |
| Corsican Christian Army | Armata Cristiana Corsa | ACC | August 2002 – 2006 | Far-right | Anti-Muslim. Local to the Ajaccio area.[17] | |
| National Liberation Army | Armata di Liberazione Naziunale | ALN | 2 August 2002 – 22 October 2002 | Unknown | Separatist. Claimed a series of Gendarmerie bombings across Corsica.[18] Likely joined with FLNC-UC dissidents in October 2002 to form the FLNC-22U. | |
| National Liberation Front of Corsica-22 October | Fronte di Liberazione Naziunale di a Corsica-22 Uttrovi | FLNC-22U | 22 October 2002 – Present | Far-left | Separatist. Second-largest currently existing Corsican nationalist armed group, behind the FLNC-UC. Formed from an FLNC-UC split due to differing views on how to handle armed struggle (as well as an ALN unification), the FLNC-UC and FLNC-22U would feud for most of their early existence. In 2016, the FLNC-22U went on ceasefire. Since 2023, when ceasefire was broken, the FLNC-22U and FLNC-UC have worked closely together.[19] | |
| Corsican Resistance | Resistenza Corsa | RC | 29 December 2002 – 13 August 2003[20] | Far-right | Anti-Muslim. Local to the Bastia region. Faced with “disarmament or dissolution” by the FLNC-UC, the group joined as its 5th army faction in 2003, where its anti-Muslim ideals were rejected. | |
| Clandestines Against Drugs | Clandestini Contra a Droga | CCD | August 2004 – 2006 | Far-right | Anti-Muslim. Carried out a series of attacks against Muslims in Ajaccio and Bastia. | |
| Corsican Clandestines | Clandestini Corsi | CC | 17 March-8 September 2004 | Far-right | Anti-Muslim. Carried out some of the most violent attacks against Muslims in Corsica. Dissolved after the FLNC-UC threatened them with “physical liquidation” through violent means.[21] [22] | |
| Anonymous Clandestine Movement | Muvimentu Clandestini Anonimu | MCA | July 2004 – 2006 | Far-right | Anti-Muslim. | |
| Army of the Corsican People | Armata di u Populu Corsu | APC | May 2004-9 October 2006 | Far-left | Separatist. Declared a “Provisional Government of the Corsican Republic” with the FARC in 2006, who joins their organization the same year. dissolves after police arrest many higher-ups in the organization.[23] |
From 2006 onwards, many splinters begin to declare their own groups with the name “FLNC”, in an attempt to claim the identity of the original FLNC.
| National Liberation Front of Corsica-the One and Only | Fronte di Liberazione Naziunale di a Corsica-u Solu è Unicu | FLNC-SU | 23 July 2006 – 2007 | Unknown | Separatist. Local to the Balagne region.[24] | |
| Rebel Clandestines | Clandsestini Ribelli | CR | 14 August–September 2006 | Unknown | Separatist. Claimed an attack on the Corsican Assembly building in Ajaccio and is suspected of another attack in Calvi.[25] | |
| National Liberation Front of Corsica-5 May 1976 | Fronte di Liberazione Naziunale di a Corsica-5 Maghju 1976 | FLNC-1976 | 5 May 2008 – Present | No specific ideology | Separatist. Mainly local to the south of the island.[26] | |
| Unified National Liberation Front of Corsica | Fronte di Liberazione Naziunale di a Corsica Unificatu | FLNC-U | 8 August 2009 – 2012 | No specific ideology | Separatist. Committed a large series of attacks until its self-dissolution in 2012.[27] | |
| National Liberation Front of Corsica-9 July | Fronte di Liberazione Naziunale di a Corsica—9 Lugliu | FLNC-9L | 9 July 2012 – 2013 | Unknown | Small organization local to the Bastia area.[28] |
After the FLNC-UC agreement in 2014, and the FLNC-22U agreement in 2016, violence was quelled significantly, however violence was intermittent through small groups. In March 2022, the 2022 Corsica Unrest saw the formation of new armed groups, and the Corsican Conflict picked up again.
| National Liberation Front of Corsica-Rebirth | Fronte di Liberazione Naziunale di a Corsica-Rinascita | FLNC-R | February 2017-March 2023 | Unknown | Separatist. Likely responsible for a number of bomb attacks throughout the peace period.[29] | |
| National Liberation Front of Corsica-21 May | Fronte di Liberazione Naziunale di a Corsica-21 Maghju | FLNC-21M | 21 May 2021 – present | Unknown | Separatist. Attributed to only a few attacks. Local to the Cap Corse region.[30] | |
| Youth Action for the Rebirth of Corsica | Azzione Ghjuventù per la Rinascita Corsa | AGRC, AJRC (from the French acronym) | 7 April 2022 – Present | Far-left | Separatist. First group to form after the death of Yvan Colonna. Local to the southern area of Corsica.[31] | |
| Corsican Clandestine youth | Ghjuventù Clandestina Corsa | GCC | 4 August 2022 – 19 February 2024 | Far-left | Separatist. Committed a series of actions across Corsica after the death of Yvan Colonna. Dismantled by police in February 2024 when three leaders of the group were arrested.[32] [33] |