Assessing Progress Toward Democracy in Francophone Africa

Four Francophone states in West Africa have recently held elections.  In three, new presidents have taken office in processes that followed protracted periods of conflict and disputed rule; in Benin, a reelected incumbent has continued a democratic tradition of 20 years' standing.  Despite the fact that the outcomes of some of these elections have been disputed, they nevertheless represent steps toward strengthening democracy in the region.

Speakers

• Boni Yayi
  President of Benin
• Alpha Conde
  President of Guinea
• Mahamadou Issoufou
  President of Niger
• Alassane Ouattara
  President of Cote d’Ivoire
• Tara Sonenshine, Introductions & Moderator
  Executive Vice President, USIP

Explore Further

Please note: English Transcripts will be made available soon.

• Watch the Webcast
  
• Access video, audio and photos from the recent event Liberia: Through the Eyes of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa’s First Elected Female Head of State
• Read Persistent Challenges to Long-Term Peace in Côte d’Ivoire Peace Brief by Dorina Bekoe
• Read Political Trends in the Africa Great Lakes Region Special Report by Judith Vorrath

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• Rule of Law Practitioners Course
• Upcoming Academy Course: Preventing Electoral Violence in Africa: Tools for Policymakers offered October 24, 2011 - October 27, 2011