The United Nations Security Council has unanimously voted to extend the diamond trade ban and arms embargo currently in place against the Ivory Coast through April 30, 2012, news outlets report.

According to Resolution 1980 (2011), the political situation in the Ivory Coast continues to "post a threat to international peace."

The Ivory Coast is the only nation whose diamonds fit the original Kimberley Process definition of "conflict diamond" – meaning that proceeds from illegal diamond trade go to fund rebel factions. Most Ivorian diamond deposits are located in the North, an area under the control of the New Forces rebels. Since January, both news outlets and the KP have reported that the Ivory Coast's illicit diamond trade persists.

The UNSC is due to review the sanctions against the Ivory Coast by October 31, 2011, to see whether they can be modified or lifted pending progress in the peace process, human rights and parliamentary elections. The Council also voted to extend the Group of Experts' mandate to oversee sanctions until April 30, 2012.

Following the vote, UN delegate Yousoufou Bamba said that an extension of the UN's sanctions against his country was necessary to bring about an end to the "state of belligerence" that has existed since incumbent president Laurent Gbagbo's refused to concede defeat in November's presidential election. In April, the tension over Gbagbo's refusal to step down boiled over into widespread violent clashes, with armed supporters of internationally-declared victor Alessane Ouattara moving into towns and villages to rout out Gbagbo's forces.