PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
AU lifts sanctions on Cote d'Ivoire
Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - The African Union (AU) has lifted sanctions against Cote d'Ivoire, according to reports reaching PANA here from the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The reports said the decision to lift the sanctions was reached following President Alassane Ouattara assumption of office as president of Cote d'Ivoire after a protracted dispute.
The continental body slammed sanctions on Cote d'Ivoire late last year, suspending the West African nation from participating in all AU activities until such a time the democratically-elected President effectively assumed State power.
After the 28 November presidential run-off vote which Ouattara won, according to the country's electoral body, President Laurent Gbagbo refused to hand over power, claiming that he was handed the presidency by the Constitutional court.
Backed by the international community, Ouattara stuck to his claim to the presidency and both camps went to war over the issue.
However, the drama, which claimed many lives and had thousands of others displaced, came to an end with the capture of Gbagbo in the presidential villa.
Ouattara has since taken action to assert himself as the Ivorian leader and return the country to normalcy.
-0- PANA AO/VAO 21April2011
The reports said the decision to lift the sanctions was reached following President Alassane Ouattara assumption of office as president of Cote d'Ivoire after a protracted dispute.
The continental body slammed sanctions on Cote d'Ivoire late last year, suspending the West African nation from participating in all AU activities until such a time the democratically-elected President effectively assumed State power.
After the 28 November presidential run-off vote which Ouattara won, according to the country's electoral body, President Laurent Gbagbo refused to hand over power, claiming that he was handed the presidency by the Constitutional court.
Backed by the international community, Ouattara stuck to his claim to the presidency and both camps went to war over the issue.
However, the drama, which claimed many lives and had thousands of others displaced, came to an end with the capture of Gbagbo in the presidential villa.
Ouattara has since taken action to assert himself as the Ivorian leader and return the country to normalcy.
-0- PANA AO/VAO 21April2011
