Summary
Gbagbo and Outtara both declared victory in December 2010. The Independent Election Commission declared Ouattara the winner of the run-off election and the results were recognized by ECOWAS and the AU. Gbagbo refused to accept the electoral outcome and violence ensued.
UNSCR 1962 (20 December 2010) urged Gbagbo and his supporters to accept the electoral results. UNSCR 1975 (30 March 2011) imposed an asset freeze and travel ban on Gbagbo, his wife, and 3 of their key supporters.
Purposes
Coerce
Coerce Gbagbo to accept the results of the UN certified election.
Constrain
Constrain Gbagbo and his supporters from opposing the electoral results.
Signal
Signal support for peace enforcement and democratic transition.
Sanctions type
Mandatory
Ongoing arms imports embargo on all parties to the conflict (with conditional security forces exemptions), travel ban, individual / entity asset freeze, and rough diamonds exports ban.
Designations
Maximum number of designees during the episode: 8 individuals.
Potential scope
Potential scope of impact
UN sanctions can have some non-discriminating impact on the general population, since they include arms embargoes, diplomatic sanctions, and/or restrictions on the conduct of particular activities or the export of specific commodities.
Implementation
Sanctions from previous episodes imposed for a limited time period (1 year). Sanctions Committee and Group of Experts in place. Designation criteria were specified and targets designated. Enforcement authorities specified, PKO had enforcement role.
Effectiveness
Coercion
Policy outcome
Outtara installed as President following ECOWAS (WAEMU) closing of Central Bank and Gbagbo's arrest by French/UN/rebel forces.
Sanctions contribution
Changes on the ground were decisive militarily; rescinding Gbagbo's authority to access funds from the Central Bank also appears to have been a critical factor in undermining the regime.
Constraint
Policy outcome
Rescinding Gbagbo's authority to access funds from the Central Bank appears to have been a critical factor in constraining the Gbagbo regime; e.g. Gbagbo's reliance on extortion from prominent businesses for financial support in April.
Sanctions contribution
UN sanctions followed measures taken by regional organizations in Africa and Europe.
Signaling
Policy outcome
Norm clearly articulated and target (former President Gbagbo) fully stigmatized by being added to a UN sanctions list and referred to the ICC.
Sanctions contribution
Designation of both Gbagbo and his wife were significant.
Overall
Unintended consequences
Increase in corruption and criminality, strengthening of authoritarian rule, increase in human rights violations, harmful effects on neighboring states, strengthening of political factions, resource diversion, humanitarian consequences.
UN sanctions resolutions guide
Procedural
- Sets new UNOCI troop sizes.
- Extends redeployment of UNMIL to UNOCI and authorizes additional UNOCI personnel deployment (1 month).
- Renews UNOCI mandate under UNSCR 1933 and extends French forces mandate (until 30.06.2011).
Procedural
- Authorizes additional UNOCI personal deployment (until 30.06.2011).
- Extends the UNSCR 1951 redeployment from UNMIL to UNOCI and authorizes transfer of 3 armed helicopters with crew (1 month).
Procedural
- Authorizes Secretary-General to extend temporary redeployment from UNMIL to UNOCI (3 months).
Substantive
- Imposes financial asset freeze and travel ban on newly designated individuals (Gbagbo and his circle).
