U.N. Imposes Arms Embargo on Ivory Coast
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UNITED NATIONS – The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously yesterday to impose an immediate arms embargo against Ivory Coast and gave the country’s warring sides one month to revive a shattered peace process or face more sanctions.
The resolution is the Security Council’s attempt to rein in chaos that began November 4 in Ivory Coast when government forces launched a new offensive against rebels in the north.
Three days later, President Gbagbo’s air force bombed a French military post, killing nine French peacekeepers and an American aid worker. That touched off violent demonstrations that led to the evacuation of more than 5,000 foreigners.
The resolution, drafted by France, imposes an immediate 13-month arms embargo against Ivory Coast.
The resolution would also give the government and the rebels a month – until December 15 – to get the peace process back on track or impose a travel ban and asset freeze against those blocking peace, violating human rights, and preventing the disarmament of combatants.
Also included in the ban would be anyone who incites public hatred or violence – a reference to hate messages on TV and radio that have been whipping up anti-French anger.
Those sanctions would last for a year if the peace process isn’t restarted. The council would then review Ivory Coast’s progress and decide whether to continue the sanctions.
In particular, the draft resolution seeks enforcement of a July disarmament agreement and demands that the government and the rebels return to a French-brokered peace deal from January 2003 that established a unity government.
The resolution had been ready to go Friday, but the Security Council agreed to hold off voting after getting a request for delay from the president of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki. He wanted to give time for mediation efforts by the African Union.
Separately, loading worried families on to the last two jumbo jets, France concluded one of the largest evacuations in post-independence Africa yesterday – an airlift that flew 5,000-plus Westerners from violence pitting France against its former prize West African colony.
More than 10,000 African nationals – with no hope of such rescue – have fled to neighboring countries, the U.N. refugee agency said.
Two French-organized flights last night, to Paris and to neighboring Ghana, are the last in six days of shuttles overseen by the French military, French spokesman Jacques Combarieu said.
With the subsiding of last week’s antiforeigner rampages and the restoration of commercial flights in Ivory Coast’s largest city, any other foreigners who want to leave will be able to do so on their own, Mr. Combarieu said.