UN lifts all sanctions on Côte d’Ivoire

The UN Security Council has lifted its sanctions regime on Côte d’Ivoire, by Resolution 2283. The sanctions regime imposed an arms embargo on Côte d’Ivoire and targeted asset freezes and travel bans on people deemed by the Council’s Sanctions Committee to constitute a threat to the peace and reconciliation process in Côte d’Ivoire, following a long period of internal conflict. It has also renewed the mandate of UNOCI, its peacekeeping mission in the country, until 30 June 2017 and dissolved the related Group of Experts and Sanctions Committee.

In a press release welcoming the Security Council’s decision, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stated that “the continued positive evolution of the situation in Côte d’Ivoire, including the successful conclusion of the presidential elections last year” has enabled the UN to enter the final stage of peacekeeping in the country.