20110121
BuaNews

Pretoria — The United States is working with its African partners to impose sanctions against Laurent Gbagbo and his supporters and broadened a travel ban in the latest bid to pressure the Ivory Coast President to step down.

"At this point, there are travel restrictions and financial restrictions on Gbagbo and his immediate circle of friends and family and those people who allow him to remain in power," US Assistant Secretary for Africa, Bruce Wharton, said on Thursday.

He was addressing the media about US government policy in Africa and the year ahead.

The US joins other countries and blocks, such as the European Union, which froze Gbagbo's assets.

Gbagbo, who is still clinging to power after a disputed 28 November election, is widely recognised to have lost to Alassane Ouattara. Gbagbo still maintains control of the army, much of the cocoa sector and state bodies.

Wharton said they will continue to increase those pressures, making it more difficult for Gbagbo to remain where he is.

"It's my hope that eventually, he will see that the future of Cote d'Ivoire and the people that he claims to serve is best served by his departure. And if that can be done peacefully, then Cote d'Ivoire can move on," added Wharton.

The post-election stalemate has left 247 people dead and forced thousands to flee their homes, according to the UN.

Turning to Sudan's referendum, which is another hot spot in the continent, Wharton labelled it as a positive thing, adding that there is still a long way though.

"The next six months will be very difficult as the people of South Sudan look at the realities of setting up an independent country. So I think it's important that the international community be there, especially neighbouring countries, and be ready to assist."

On Saturday, the people of southern Sudan concluded their historic week-long referendum, in which they voted on whether they will remain part of a united Sudan or form a new independent state.

Wharton said the US, through its USAID programmes, will continue to work with parliaments and legislatures across the continent to try to help more countries to become credible.

Some of the African states still struggle with sustaining peace agreements, and are littered with failed institutions and initiatives that have not been followed through to completion, or promises that have been broken - leaving questions about Africa's credibility in democratic processes.

"We will continue to make the case to anyone who will listen to us that checks and balances, credible institutions, truly independent judiciaries and electoral commissions, are in the long-term best interest of the country," he said.

Wharton explained that credible democratic institutions build public and international confidence in the government. "Confidence results, or can result, in greater interest from investors. It's all linked together," he said.

On food security, which is another hot topic in the continent, Wharton advised African governments to look into biotechnology, saying it would offer some sort of hope.

"But I think that the first response has got to be for Africa to become more productive in agriculture itself," he added.

An estimated 1.2 billion people globally are said to be severely affected by the food crisis, with the majority in Africa. The continent is also under pressure with desertification and climate change, which further affect African countries.

Wharton reaffirmed the US government's policy of maintaining peace and providing humanitarian support for African countries for years to come.