EU lifts last sanctions against Ivory Coast firms
(BRUSSELS) - The European Union lifted Monday the last of its sanctions imposed on Ivory Coast businesses, removing an assets freeze against three companies including the RTI national broadcaster.
The 27-nation EU began to lift sanctions against Ivorian businesses when the internationally recognised winner of elections, Alassane Ouattara, finally took power as president in April.
The punitive measures had been slapped on Ivorian companies to pressure former president Laurent Gbagbo to loosen his grip on power.
After lifting sanctions against 10 businesses in recent weeks, the EU said it decided to remove "the restrictions on the last three entities subject to an EU assets freeze, in order to support the country's economic recovery."
The Cote d'Ivoire Association of Natural Rubber Producers (APROCANCI), the National Electricity Management (SOGEPE) and Ivorian Radio and Television (RTI) were removed from the sanctions list, the EU said in a statement.
An EU travel ban and assets freeze on Gbagbo and several of his closest associates -- imposed over his refusal to admit defeat in November elections after 10 years in power -- remain in place.