Through a decree from the White House, US President Barack Obama has lifted the economic sanctions imposed to Cote d’Ivoire for over decade now. The sanctions which were imposed in 2006 during President Georges W. Bush’s term included an embargo on arms, assets freeze and a travel ban for some Ivorian politicians who blocked the peace process initiated in 2003.

“Côte d’Ivoire has taken important steps to strengthen its governing and economic institutions and reconcile the differences that led to war,” White House National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said.

US’ decision follows another of the United Nations Security Council to lift sanctions against six individuals last April, of which Cote d’Ivoire’s former president Laurent Gbagbo, who is currently being judged by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Washington congratulated the world’s leading cocoa producer for an “extraordinary progress, reconstruction model, and growth”, which make it “one of the continent’s most dynamic economies”.

Alain Okpeitcha