Bush Blocks U.S. Property of Ivorians Contributing to Unrest
09 February 2006
Three cited for roles in Côte d'Ivoire conflict, others might be added
By Helen I. Rouce
Washington File Staff Writer
Washington -- President Bush February 8 blocked the property of three people who are contributing to the continuing conflict in the West African nation of Côte d'Ivoire.
Through an executive order, Bush blocked the property and interests in U.S. property of Eugène Ngoran Kouadio Djue, leader of Union pour la liberation totale de la Côte d'Ivoire (“Union for the Total Liberation of Côte d'Ivoire”); Martin Kouakou Fofie, zone commander in Korhogo for Forces nouvelles ("New Forces"); and Charles Ble Goude, head of Congres panafricain des jeunes patriotes ("Pan-African Congress of Young Patriots").
In a message to the U.S. Congress explaining his action, Bush referred to U.N. Security Council Resolution 1572 of November 15, 2004, which "expressed deep concern over the resumption of hostilities in Côte d'Ivoire, the public incitement of hatred and violence and the repeated violations of the cease-fire agreement of May 3, 2003."
In addition, he said, the resolution "determined that the situation in Côte d'Ivoire poses a threat to international peace and security in the region and called on member states to take certain measures against persons responsible for the continuing conflict."
In subsequent resolutions in December 2005 and January 2006, the U.N. Security Council "has continued to express serious concern at the persistence of the crisis in Côte d'Ivoire and of obstacles to the peace and national reconciliation process from all sides," Bush said.
"Despite the intervention and efforts of the international community, there have been massacres of large numbers of civilians, widespread human rights abuses, significant political violence and unrest, and attacks against international peacekeeping forces in Côte d'Ivoire," Bush wrote to the Congress.
He cited the killing of large numbers of civilians in Korhogo and Abidjan in 2004 and significant unrest, including public incitements to violence, in Abidjan that same year. In 2005, he said, there were human-rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, in western Côte d'Ivoire and attacks on a police station and prison in Anyama and Agboville. In addition, violent protests in Abidjan and attacks on U.N. and international nongovernmental organization facilities took place in western Côte d'Ivoire in 2006.
In spite of the signing of several peace agreements, including a cease-fire, by Ivorian political forces between January 2003 and June 2005, Bush said, "Ivorian parties have continued to engage in military operations and attacks against peacekeeping forces in Côte d'Ivoire, leading to fatalities."
Bush's order also applies to any person determined by the U.S. treasury secretary, in consultation with the secretary of state, to constitute a threat to Côte d'Ivoire's peace and national reconciliation process, to be responsible for serious violations of international law in the country, to have directly or indirectly provided arms, materiel or military-related assistance to Côte d'Ivoire, or to have publicly incited violence and hatred contributing to the conflict in the country.
The president authorized the treasury secretary, in consultation with the secretary of state, to add or remove persons from the list "as circumstances warrant."
The executive order and the message to Congress are available on the White House Web site.
(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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