Obama lifts economic sanctions Bush imposed on Ivory Coast

President of the United States (US),
Barack Obama, has lifted economic
sanctions imposed on Ivory Coast in
2006 by the regime of his predecessor,
George Bush.

The US president cited advancing
democratic credentials of the west
African nation as the reason behind
terminating the national emergency
declared by the US in Executive Order
13396, it was this order that led to the
imposition of sanctions.
‘‘The President determined that Cote
d’Ivoire’s advances in restoring peace
and democracy and developing its
political, administrative, and economic
institutions represent significant
improvements since President Bush
declared the national emergency in
2006,’‘ the US Department of State
noted in a statement.
“ We will continue to support
the people and government
of Cote d’Ivoire in their
efforts to strengthen the
country’s democratic
institutions and to pursue
economic reforms that will
ensure long-term
development. ”
Whiles observing that the country had
made great progress since the political
crisis of 2010 – 2011, the US said it
was optimistic of lasting peace and
inclusive prosperity in the Ivory Coast.
They also lauded last years’ polls in
the country describing it as a
‘peaceful, transparent, credible and
inclusive.’ The 2015 polls gave
incumbent president Alassane Ouattara
his second and final term in office.
‘‘Cote d’Ivoire is continuing the vital
work of national reconciliation and
security sector reform, which includes
professionalizing its security forces and
reintegrating former combatants and
refugees.
‘‘We will continue to support the people
and government of Cote d’Ivoire in
their efforts to strengthen the
country’s democratic institutions and
to pursue economic reforms that will
ensure long-term development and
shared prosperity for all Ivorians,’‘ the
statement concluded.
Wednesday’s move follows the lifting
of a 12-year-old arms embargo, asset
freezes and travel bans against six
individuals by the UN Security Council
in April, among the six was ex
president Laurent Gbagbo, who is
currently facing war crimes charges at
the International Criminal Court in the
Hague.
Ouattara won the 2010 elections but
Gbagbo – the then incumbent –
refused to concede defeat, leading to a
political strife. French forces helped
forces loyal to Ouattara to depose him
later in 2011.
Ivory Coast has since gone on to
become one of Africa’s key economic
success stories and seen as a model
of post-conflict reconstruction and
political reconciliation.