UN Peacekeeping Mission Remains Critical to Cote d’Ivoire’s Future

Posted by Victoria Holt / April 06, 2012

An aerial view of the central Plateau neighborhood of Abidjan, Cote d Ivoire, Jan. 4, 2011. [AP File Photo]

Flying into Abidjan, you see that Cote d'Ivoire is back in business. Streets are lit, cars are new, and the downtown has the vibrancy and neon signs of a busy capital. Plans for development -- such as a new bridge to link the city across its lagoons -- are the government's focus.

Little of this was imaginable a year ago, when the country faced a dramatic crisis of leadership -- and a questionable future -- after its November 2010 elections. For months, the UN peacekeepers, backed by the international community and French Licorne forces, held the line against a defiant former leader who refused to step down despite losing the Presidential elections to his rival. Yet today, with former President Gbagbo in the Hague for war crimes, President Ouattara is moving forward to put the past behind and build a united nation.

Beyond the bright lights, much work remains.… more »

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Travel Diary: Secretary Clinton Emphasizes U.S. Focus on Democratization in Africa

Posted by DipNote Bloggers / January 17, 2012

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton participates in a roundtable discussion with youth and community leaders at the Center for Research and Action for Peace in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, on January 17, 2012. Also pictured in the photo are: Rev. Hyacinthe Loua, Director General Centre de Recherche et d’Action pour la Paix (CERAP); Marcel; and Quentin Kanyatsi, Country Director Search for Common Ground. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]

More: Interactive Travel Map | Photos

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton traveled to Liberia, Cote d'Ivoire, Togo, and Cape Verde on January 16-17, 2012, to demonstrate U.S. commitment to post-conflict return to peace, good governance, and economic development as well as to emphasize U.S. focus on democratization.

In Liberia, Secretary Clinton attended President Sirleaf's inauguration and presided over the in-house dedication of the new U.S. embassy compound to demonstrate America's commitment to an enduring friendship with the people of Liberia, as well as the importance of our bilateral relationship with the Liberian Government. At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Secretary Clinton… more »

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Travel Diary: Secretary Clinton Travels to Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire, Togo, and Cape Verde

Posted by DipNote Bloggers / January 16, 2012

Secretary Clinton boards plane in Beirut, Lebanon, April 26, 2009. [State Department Photo]

More: Trip Page | Background Briefing

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will travel to Liberia, Cote d'Ivoire, Togo, and Cape Verde on January 16-17, 2012, to demonstrate U.S. commitment to post-conflict return to peace, good governance, and economic development as well as to emphasize U.S. focus on democratization.

While in Liberia, Secretary Clinton will attend President Sirleaf's inauguration and preside over the ribbon-cutting of the New U.S. Embassy Compound in Monrovia. In Cote d'Ivoire, she will meet with President Ouattara to showcase our support for national reconciliation and strengthening democratic institutions following successful legislative elections… more »

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