[News from Congressman Chris Smith - 4th New Jersey

*** MEDIA ADVISORY ***

Committee on International Relations
Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations

Smith to Examine Effects of Liberia’s
Election Results on West Africa

BACKGROUND:  In January, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf was sworn in as the first elected female president in the history of independent Africa. Now that she is leading the West African nation of Liberia, what can she do to turn it around from the chaos and poverty into which it had fallen?

The regime of her predecessor, President Charles Taylor, looted the treasury, diminished Liberia’s natural resources and jailed or killed political opponents. Taylor-sponsored rebels have destabilized Sierra Leone, Guinea and Cote d’Ivoire. Taylor’s extradition to the Sierra Leone Special Court remains high on the agenda of the U.S. government and will be examined in this hearing.

This focus of this hearing – The Impact of Liberia’s Election on West Africa – is U.S. support for restoring infrastructure and stimulating the economy in a country where the dominant agricultural sector remains decimated by war and unemployment has reached 85%.

WHAT: The Effects of Liberia’s Election on West Africa                
              Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations
              U.S. Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ), Chairman

WHEN: Wednesday, February 8, 2006
               12:00 PM

WHERE: 2172 Rayburn House Office Building


WITNESSES:

Panel I

Jendayi E. Frazer, Ph.D., Assistant Secretary – Bureau of African Affairs, US State Dept.
Lloyd Pierson, Assistant Administrator for Africa, U.S. Agency for Intl’ Development

Panel II

J. Peter Pham, Ph.D., Director – William R. Nelson Institute for International and Public Affairs, James Madison University
Ms. Vivian Lowery Derryck – Senior Vice President, Academy for Educational Development
Mr. David Crane – Former Chief Prosecutor Special Court for Sierra Leone

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For Immediate Release: February 7, 2006 
Contact:  Brad Dayspring (202) 225-3765