Experts describe Ivory Coast (Cote d’Ivoire) as Africa’s biggest news story of 2010. Its disputed November 28 run-off and its tense aftermath constitute a secondary crisis. This situation was indeed born out of unresolved primary Ivorian dilemmas and crises: the epicenter of FranceAfrique or French neocolonialism across Africa. Global capital, neoliberalism and foreign economic domination are the price of “stable” dictatorship.

Cote d’Ivoire’s list of primary crises is long; the down side of open-door immigration and open borders; violation of indigenous land rights; identity and exclusion; ethnic and religious bigotry; democracy versus authoritarian development; and a rebellion and civil war that has split the country.

Hence there is a need for a briefing that sorts out the issues and proposes how to galvanize action for sound engagement by the Obama Administration to help resolve the crisis and even for supporting reconstruction and reconciliation once the crisis is defused.

Panelists include:

• Youssoufou Bamba, United Nations Ambassador
• Gnaka Lagoke, Activist
• Nii Akuetteh, Analyst

The briefing will be presided over by author, journalist, and Africa expert, Howard French.

A broad and diverse network of institutional and individual stakeholders in U.S. policy affecting Africa, particularly concerned Ivorians have come together to fully engaged this crisis, including co-sponsors: Friends of the Congo, Foreign Policy In Focus (an Institute for Policy Studies project), International Labor Rights Forum, Africa Faith & Justice Network, and Africa Action.

CONTACT: Maurice Carney, Friends of the Congo, 1-888-584-6510