South Africa is freezing funds of Côte d’Ivoire incumbent leader Laurent Gbagbo and others in line with a UN Security Council Resolution, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan said on Friday.
“The South African government is implementing the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1975 (2011), which was adopted with immediate effect on Wednesday, 30 March 2011,” Gordhan said in a statement.
“The Resolution requires that financial institutions in member countries freeze the funds, other financial assets and economic resources of all persons who pose a threat to the peace and national reconciliation process in Côte d’Ivoire,” he said.
“It provides for targeted financial and travel measures against: Laurent Gbagbo, the former president of Côte d’Ivoire; Simone Gbagbo, chairperson of the parliamentary group of the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI); Désiré Tagro, the secretary-general in Gbagbo’s presidency; Pascal Affi N’Guessan, chairperson of the FPI; and Alcide Djédjé, advisor to Gbagbo.”
Gordhan said he had instructed the Financial Intelligence Centre to caution financial institutions not to get involved in transactions or business relationships which could provide funds to these people.
“In addition the South African Reserve Bank has indicated it will use the measures available to it to prevent any such funds from leaving the country,” he said.
“The South African government has expressed its deep concern for the situation in Côte d’Ivoire and called upon the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States to support efforts to find a political solution to the violence and conflict in that country,” he added. — Sapa