Chairman Smith on the hearing: “Liberia, a country established in the 1800s by freed slaves from the United States, has a special place in U.S. foreign policy toward Africa. After seeing democratic progress under President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf during her two terms in office, this hearing will examine the prospects for further consolidation of democracy and governance in the administration elected in October elections.”

Opening Statements

Full text of Chairman Ed Royce’s opening statement

Witnesses

Panel I

The Honorable Donald Yamamoto
Acting Assistant Secretary
Bureau of African Affairs
U.S. Department of State
[full text of statement]

Ms. Cheryl Anderson
Acting Assistant Administrator
Bureau for Africa
U.S. Agency for International Development
[full text of statement]

Panel II

Mr. Dave Peterson
Senior Director
Africa Programs

National Endowment for Democracy
[full text of statement]
[truth in testimony form]

Ms. Aurelia Curtis
Founder and Executive Director
Weeks Educational and Social Advocacy Project
[full text of statement]
[truth in testimony form]

Mr. Rushdi Nackerdien
Regional Director for Africa
International Foundation for Electoral Systems
[full text of statement]
[truth in testimony form]

Christopher Fomunyoh, Ph.D.
Senior Associate and Regional Director for Central and West Africa
National Democratic Institute
[full text of statement]
[truth in testimony form]

____________________________

Hearing transcript (PDF)