13 April – Confectioners have rejoiced at the EU decision to lift sanctions on the Ivory Coast following the arrest of Laurent Gbagbo on 11th April.

The internationally recognised president elect Alassane Ouattara suspended all cocoa bean exports in January in an attempt to cut off Gbago’s funding after he refused to step down from power following the disputed elections. The EU also imposed sanctions at around the same time to help transfer power to Ouattara.

The ban on cocoa bean exports has resulted in prices increasing to a 30 year high. Prices were believed to increase even further when reports circulated that the 475,000 tonnes of cocoa beans being piled up at ports awaiting export were beginning to rot.

However, as of 12th April the ports of Abidjan and San Pedro, the Ivorian Refining Company and the Coffee and Cocoa Trade Management Committee have been removed from the list of entities subject to the EU assets freeze and cocoa prices are starting to reduce.

However, it is unlikely that cocoa production will return to normal immediately as many farmers fled their plantations during the violence, farms have been neglected and many cocoa beans have been stolen and smuggled out of the country.

A return to normal cocoa activity will help the lives of thousands of farmers and their families.