“A repeatedly-delayed presidential election and a subsequent runoff election failed to end longstanding political and civil unrest in that West African nation,” said Chairman Chris Smith (NJ-04) at a hearing of the House Africa, Global Health and Human Rights Subcommittee today. “Despite the arrest of sitting President Laurent Gbagbo this week, there remain obstacles to the return of peace and prosperity to Cote d’Ivoire.

    “Cote d’Ivoire had been one of the region’s most stable governments and an African economic powerhouse,” Smith said. “In fact, even during the worst periods of civil war in this troubled country, Cote d’Ivoire remained one of America’s largest trading partners in Africa.  Unfortunately, this nation has become a blight on its neighbors rather than the blessing it had been for so long. As many as a million Ivorians have been driven from their homes by the fighting.”  Click here to read Chairman Smith’s statement.

    The congressional hearing featured testimony on the crisis from the U.S. State Department. William Fitzgerald, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau on African Affairs, testified before Smith’s subcommittee. Click here to read Deputy Assistant Secretary Fitzgerald testimony. The resolution, H.Res. 85, offered by fellow New Jersey Congressman Don Payne (D-NJ), was approved in the form of a substitute amendment, and reported to full House Foreign Affairs Committee. 

    The resolution seeks to support the democratic hopes of the Ivoirian people and calls on the U.S. government to use diplomatic pressure and provide humanitarian support in response to the political crisis. It acknowledges that in November 2010, Alassane Ouattara won the presidential election, but the incumbent Laurent Gbagbo refused to peacefully transfer power to President Ouattara. The United Nations has verified nearly 300 deaths resulting from post-election violence, including extrajudicial and summary executions of Ivoirians—mostly civilian supporters of President Ouattara.