EU lifts remaining restrictions on Côte d'Ivoire's entities

EU lifts remaining restrictions on Côte d'Ivoire's entities

2011-06-27 23:10:43 GMT+7 (ICT)

BRUSSELS (BNO NEWS) -- The European Union on Monday lifted the remaining restrictions on three entities in Côte d'Ivoire in order to support the economic recovery of the African nation.

The Council of the European Union decided to remove the EU assets freeze imposed on the Côte d'Ivoire Association of Natural Rubber Producers (APROCANCI), National Electricity Management (SOGEPE) and Ivorian Radio and Television (RTI).

These three Ivorian entities were the last ones sanctioned by the EU. On April 8, the Council decided to lift the assets freeze on four entities. Later on April 29, six more companies were delisted from the EU sanctions list.

The EU sanctions were imposed against Côte d'Ivoire's entities and officials deemed to be obstructing peace and reconciliation in Côte d'Ivoire, obstructing the work of the UN Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) and committing serious human rights violations.

The months-long conflict began after the November 2010 presidential run-off in which opposition candidate Alassane Ouattara defeated then President Laurent Gbagbo, who dismissed the elections' results despite being certified and monitored by the UN.

According to the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI), the post-electoral crisis resulted in the deaths of more than 1,000 people and the displacement of up to 1 million, many of whom have fled to neighboring countries.

Ouattara was finally sworn in early May after Gbagbo's surrender and arrest in April. Côte d'Ivoire is currently in process of forming an all-inclusive, broad-based government to restore peace to the nation.

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