EU sanctions pro-Gbagbo bank chiefs, banks in Ivory Coast
(BRUSSELS) - The EU slapped sanctions on six more Ivorians, including West Africa's former central bank governor, and two national banks on Wednesday, because of ties to outcast leader Laurent Gbagbo.
The new names, published in the European Union's Official Journal, bring to 91 the number of people facing EU visa bans and assets freezes.
With banks Caisse d'Epargne de Cote d'Ivoire and Banque de l'Habitat de Cote d'Ivoire also sanctioned for "financing Laurent Gbagbo's illegitimate regime", a total 13 economic entities are facing EU assets freezes.
The two top bankers added to the sanctions are Philippe-Henri Dacoury-Tabley, outgoing governor of the Senegal-based Central Bank of West African States, and Denis N'Gbe, who heads the Abidjan branch of the bank, also known under its French acronym BCEAO.
President-elect Alassane Ouattara, internationally recognised as winner of the November 28 elections, had said the bank had been paying out money to Gbagbo, enabling him to pay the army and cling to power.
Ouattara is holed up in an Abidjan hotel where he and his supporters are paying their expenses with help from other countries and savings.
In December finance ministers from the seven other members of the West African Monetary Union said Ouattara should have access to the country's funds.
A spokesman for Ouattara has estimated Gbagbo withdrew 100 billion CFA francs (152.4 million euros) from the bank between December 24 and January 17.
Among the industries, banks and utilities on the list are the main ports of Abidjan and San Pedro, vital to the cocoa-export trade in the world's top cocoa-producing country.
The sanctions also target the board that manages the country's coffee and cocoa business (CGFCC) and the national oil company Petroci.
Added to the list of individuals are Lebanese businessman Ibrahim Ezzedine, a member of the country's economic and social council, Roland Dagher, top finance ministry official Oussou Kouassi and the head of the Banque Nationale d'Investissement (BNI), Ossay Eugene Amonkou.