Ambassador Hooks welcoming Traditional Chiefs. (Photo : Soro Yacouba/US Embassy)

Celebration of World’s Oldest Democracy Offers Lessons for Côte d’Ivoire

The United States will mark its 230th anniversary tomorrow as the oldest democracy in the world.  The day marks the signing of the Declaration of Independence from Great Brittan, by the founders of the United States of America.   The document inspired on the American revolutionaries with its proclamation that all men are created equal and endowed with certain inalienable rights.  Since independence the United States has continued to evolve as a society and a democracy, including enduring a civil war.  Because of its struggles, American Ambassador Aubrey Hooks said that his country’s democratic experiment held important lessons for Côte d’Ivoire.

“Much like in the early days of the United States, Côte d’Ivoire’s democracy is being challenged to confront conflict and overcome obstacles,” remarked Ambassador Hooks ahead of tomorrow’s celebrations. “Côte d’Ivoire is still is trying to define itself as a democracy and a people.  We also fought a civil war that forced us to address unresolved questions about what kind of nation we would become and who would be able to claim the rights of citizenship.  Even though Côte d’Ivoire is presently navigating a difficult period in its history, I believe that as with the United States, it will emerge from these travails a stronger and more prosperous nation.”

The Ambassador said that his country continued to work closely with Côte d’Ivoire to help to build a strong and vibrant democracy.  As a concrete demonstration of the United States engagement in the Ivoirian peace process, the Ambassador will leave on Thursday on an unprecedented week-long trip through New Forces-controlled territory to help advance work towards disarmament, identification, and reunification of the country.