With the Côte d’Ivoire still split in half between the Government and rebel forces, the United Nations Security Council today renewed for another year the arms embargo and the travel and financial restrictions applied to those deemed to threaten peace there, while also deciding to ban imports of rough diamonds from the country.

The Special Adviser to the United Nations Secretary-General for the Prevention of Genocide has called on the authorities in to Côte d'Ivoire to break the cycle of impunity for human rights abuses so as to eliminate mistrust and hatred between communities in the divided West African country.

The Security Council today expressed deep concern "at the persistent disagreements among Ivorian parties" over the appointment of an interim prime minister to lead the divided West African country into the next phase of its political transition after years of political unrest and a failed 2001 coup.

The defence expenditure of Côte d'Ivoire is high, the revenue details of cocoa, its main export, lack transparency, and illicit diamond exports could buy banned weapons, according to the latest report on the United Nations arms embargo against the West African country, split in half by fighting between Government and rebel forces.