I am pleased to chair today’s Africa subcommittee hearing on the next steps in Cote d’Ivoire. I am privileged to serve with my friend Senator Isakson and want to take the opportunity to thank him for his partnership on the subcommittee.
Cote d’Ivoire is emerging from a severe political-military crisis that followed historic elections held on November 28, 2010. Just to underscore, these were the first truly national elections in Cote d’Ivoire’s history, with candidates representing every region in the country. While President Ouatarra’s victory was certified by the Ivorian Independent Electoral Commission and the United Nations, Mr. Gbagbo refused to recognize these results. The subsequent violence and conflict that emerged resulted in the tragic death of nearly 1,000 civilians and the displacement of up to one million people.
I am pleased that armed conflict largely ended days after Gbagbo’s arrest on April 11, and that President Ouattara was sworn-in less than a month later with a formal inauguration planned for next week. I am also pleased that President Ouattara recently reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring accountability for those implicated in the violence, including forces loyal to both him and Mr. Gbagbo. As President Ouattara asserted on his recent state visit to Senegal, “No one is above the law. All those that committed crimes of blood will be punished.” Reconciliation – in addition to accountability and justice for all – are absolutely essential to promoting a stable and prosperous future in Cote d’Ivoire.
Political reconciliation will be a challenge for President Ouattara, who has made it a top priority along with restoring security, addressing human rights abuses, ensuring transitional justice, reviving the economy, and reforming the security sector. This hearing will provide an opportunity to hear several perspectives on his ambitious agenda, and consider the role of the U.S. and the international community in supporting President Ouattara as he addresses governance issues and humanitarian concerns. It will also consider the role of multilateral institutions, such as the United Nations, the African Union, and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in response to the conflict, as well as regional implications of recent events.
Cote d’Ivoire is an important economic hub in Africa, the world’s largest cocoa producer, and one of the largest U.S. trading partners in the region. We will therefore also explore economic consequences of the recent crisis, and steps toward economic recovery and growth. An additional goal of the hearing is to consider military sector reform, which has been a challenge since the Ivorian civil war in 2002. We will hear recommendations for the disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration process which President Ouattara has undertaken to create a unified military that can offer protection to the Ivorian people and serve as a source of stability in the region.
I was deeply concerned about allegations of mass atrocities carried out by both sides in this conflict, and am disturbed by reports of ongoing looting in Abidjan and violence. I also am acutely aware of the continuing humanitarian crisis, and look forward to hearing the strategy for providing assistance to refugees, displaced persons, and Ivoirians facing ongoing security concerns.
Beyond the immediate crisis, I look forward to hearing suggestions on how the international community can support the Ouattara government as it attempts to address the underlying causes of instability in Cote d’Ivoire. It is essential to build on lessons learned from this past election and build stronger institutions of governance, especially as Cote d’Ivoire prepares for legislative elections. As President Obama said in his speech earlier today, “…we have a stake not just in the stability of nations, but in the self determination of individuals.” I agree with this statement, and believe it should serve as a guiding principle for U.S. foreign policy not just in the Middle East and Africa, but globally.
We will have two panels, the first comprised of representatives from the State Department and USAID, and the second consisting of non-governmental experts on West Africa and Cote d’Ivoire.
First we’ll hear from Bill Fitzgerald, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, who will discuss the U.S. diplomatic priorities in Cote d’Ivoire and the administration’s plan for the country going forward. We will also hear from Nancy Lindborg, Assistant Administrator for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance at USAID who will discuss the humanitarian efforts undertaken by USAID and its plans for supporting economic recovery and political reconciliation.
On the second panel, we will hear from Dr. Michael McGovern, Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Yale University, who will discuss the prospects for political reconciliation, the challenges of demilitarization, and the promotion of good governance and stability. Jennifer Cooke, Director of Africa Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), will discuss the role of the international community and regional implications of events in Cote d’Ivoire. Finally, we will hear from Dr. Raymond Gilpin, Director of the Center for Sustainable Economies at the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP), who will discuss the economic causes and consequences of instability in Cote d’Ivoire, and provide suggestions for economic growth going forward.
I appreciate our witnesses being here today, and look forward to your testimony.