Next Steps in Cote d'Ivoire: Economic Costs and Consequences

Mr Chairman, Ranking Member Lugar, members of the committee, I am honored to testify before the Committee on Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs on the economic costs and consequences of the recent post election crisis in Cote d'Ivoire, which lasted from November 28, 2011 until the ouster of former president Laurent Gbagbo on April 10, 2011.

The views expressed in this testimony are my own. They are informed by my work at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) which provides analysis, training and tools to help prevent, manage and end violent international conflicts, promote stability, and professionalize the field of peacebuilding. In directing the Sustainable Economies Center of Innovation at USIP, I lead research and field work on economic dimensions of peacebuilding in conflict affected countries like Cote d‟Ivoire. We leverage extensive partnerships in conflict zones to deepen our understanding of complex and evolving dynamics on the ground and sharpen our insights on remedial strategies that are both practical and effective. I also draw from first hand knowledge of the Ivorian domestic economic and political environment, having lived in Cote d‟Ivoire from to during my tenure as a senior macroeconomist at the African Development Bank Group. As a development economist, I have followed events in Cote d‟Ivoire closely for over two decades.