Ivory Coast

Ivory Coast is no longer under EU arms embargo. The EU arms embargo was lifted on 10th June 2016 (Council Decision 2016/917/PESC and Regulation 2016/907).  

Prohibitions 

Ivory Coast was under EU arms embargo from December 2004 to June 2016. During the last phase of the embargo, between April 2015 and June 2016, the regime of sanctions as detailed in Council Decision 2010/656/CFSP, in its updated versions, and supplemented by Regulation 174/2005, later amended, prohibited “the sale, supply, transfer or export of arms and related material of all types, (…), as well as equipment which might be used for internal repression, to Ivory Coast” (Decision 2010/656/CFSP, art. 1 and Regulation 174/2005, art .3), These items were listed in Annex I of Regulation 174/2005. 

Exceptions 

This embargo provided for several exemptions applying to Ivorian security forces as well as other actors present in the country. 

Ivorian security Forces 

Some exemptions eased the sanctions applying to the Ivorian security forces, depending on the type and the end-use of the relevant items. 

Requiring no prior approval from or notification to the UN Sanctions Committee on DPRK: 

• The sale, supply, transfer or export of non-lethal equipment which might be used for internal repression by Ivorian security forces was also permitted, provided this equipment was solely intended to “enable the Ivorian security forces to use only appropriate and proportionate force while maintaining public order” (Regulation 174/2005, art. 4a, para.1, and Decision 2010/656/CFSP, art. 2, para.1, c) 
• The sale, supply, transfer or export of equipment that might be used for internal repression to the Ivorian security forces was permitted, provided this equipment was solely intended for “the support of the Ivorian process of Security Sector Reform” (Regulation 174/20025, art. 4a, para. 2 and Decision 2010/656/CFSP, art. 2, para. 1, d). 

Requiring prior notification to the UN Sanctions Committee on DPRK: 

• The supply of arms and related lethal materiel not subject to the below-mentioned prior approval system, if “intended solely for the support of, or use in, the Ivorian process of security sector reform “(Decision 2010/656/CFSP, art. 2, para. 1, b, ii). Primary responsibility for such notification rested with the Government of Ivory Coast. In the alternative, a Member State delivering assistance was llowed to make this notification after informing the Government of Ivory Coast of its intention to do so. (Decision 2010/656/CFSP, art. 2, para. 2). 

Requiring prior approval from the UN Sanctions Committee on DPRK: 

• The supply, sale or transfer of the following weapons upon request from the government of Ivory Coast: 

1. Weapons, direct and indirect fire artillery, and guns with a calibre bigger than 12.7 mm, their ammunition and components. 

2. Rocket-propelled grenades, rockets, light anti-tank weapons, rifle grenades and grenade-launchers. 

3. Surface-to-air missiles, including man portable air defence systems (Manpads); surface-to-surface missiles; and air-to-surface missiles. 

4. Mortars with a calibre bigger than 82 mm. 

5. Guided anti-tank weapons, especially guided anti-tank missiles, their ammunition and components. 

6. Armed aircraft, including rotary wing or fixed wing. 

7. Military armed vehicles or military vehicles equipped with weapon mounts. 

8. Explosive charges and devices containing explosive materials, designed for military purpose, mines and related materiel. 

9. Night observation and night shooting devices. (Decision 2010/656/CFSP, Annex III). 

Other actors present in the country 

The EU arms embargo provided for three different types of exceptions benefiting non-Ivorian actors present in the country: 

Requiring no prior approval from or notification to the UN Sanctions Committee on DPRK: 

• The sale, supply, transfer or export of equipment that might be used for internal repression to the Ivorian security forces when these items were solely intended for the support of or use by the United Nations Operation in Ivory Coast (UNOCI) and the French forces who support them, as well as the supplies intended for the support of or use by United Nations Peacekeeping Operations (Decision 2010/656/CFSP, art. 2, para. 1 a and Regulation 174/2005, art. 4a, para. 2). 
• The supply of protective clothing, including flak jackets and military helmets, temporarily exported to Ivory Coast by United Nations personnel, personnel of the European Union or its Member-States, representatives of the media and humanitarian and development workers and associated personnel, for their personal use only. (Regulation 174/2005, art. 5). 
• Items which might be used for internal repression and were listed in Annex I of Regulation 174/2005 if they were solely for civilian use in mining or infrastructure projects. (Regulation 174/2005, art. 4b, para. 1 and Decision 2010/656/CFSP, art. 1a). 

Requiring prior notification to the UN Sanctions Committee on DPRK: 

• The supplies of arms and related materiel or equipment that might be used for internal repression when these items were “temporarily exported to Ivory Coast to the forces of a State which is taking action, in accordance with international law, solely and directly to facilitate the evacuation of its nationals and those for whom it has consular responsibility in Ivory Coast” (Decision 2010/656/CFSP, art.2, para.1, b, i).  

Others 

Ivory Coast was also under a similar UN arms embargo established in November 2004 and lifted 28th April 2016.