Congrats to Pedro de Verona Pires and "An African Answer" screening

During my absence:

Africa: Award of Mo Ibrahim Prize to Former President Pedro Pires of Cape Verde <http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2011/10/175232.htm>

Washington, DC
October 11, 2011

The United States congratulates Pedro de Verona Rodrigues Pires, the former president of Cape Verde, upon being awarded the Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership. This prize recognizes President Pires’ notable achievements in strengthening democracy, good governance, and economic development, making Cape Verde a model for other West African nations searching for an enduring democratic way forward. Specifically, the award cited Pires's influence in assuring Cape Verde’s successful transition in the early 1990s from one-party to multi-party governance.

Sorry I missed this:

Religious Peacemaking in Nigeria and Kenya: Launch of a Film "An African Answer"

U.S. Institute of Peace

The Department of State's Office of International Religious Freedom and the Religion and Peacemaking program at the U.S. Institute of Peace are pleased to announce the Washington premier of "An African Answer."

In 2006, the documentary "The Imam and the Pastor" profiled the personal transformations of Imam Muhammad Ashafa and Pastor James Wuye from militant youth leaders to peacebuilders. With USIP support, Ashafa and Wuye have mediated peace between Christians and Muslims in Nigeria's Plateau State through their Interfaith Mediation Center.

"An African Answer" brings the conversation on interfaith peacebuilding a step forward, detailing the pair's unique methodology for building peace in divided societies as they work to bridge divides in Kenya following the 2007 outbreak of post-election inter-ethnic violence.

This event will feature the following speakers:

Pastor James Wuye, Panelist

Interfaith Mediation Center, Kaduna, Nigeria

Imam Muhammad Ashafa, Panelist

Interfaith Mediation Center, Kaduna, Nigeria

Dr. Alan Channer, Panelist

FLT Films

Daniel Baer, Introductory Comments

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State

Maureen Fiedler, Moderator

Interfaith Voices

David Smock <http://click.newsletters.usip.org/?qs=557a52e346034b61d0c7c543deaa2f3d0da67c5a384f3c63122028ba66199538> , Introduction U.S. Institute of Peace

Inquiries

Please contact Renata Stuebner at 202-429-3864 or rstuebner@usip.org <mailto:rstuebner@usip.org?subject=African%20Answer%20Event>  with any general questions about this event.

4 Francophone African Presidents speak at USIP

African Presidents at USIP Link Democracy, Security

http://www.usip.org/files/email/bulletin/4_presidents.jpg

The elected presidents of four West African nations, appearing at USIP, called for consolidating democratic advances in their countries after what for most has been a debilitating period of conflict, dictatorship and political struggle. | Read about the USIP event with the presidents of Benin, Niger, Cote D'Ivoire and Guinea http://click.newsletters.usip.org/?qs=994cde0d6eadcbbd7851f53682e4a058f03abb0dfd7410c974c45c8c6b817192

http://click.newsletters.usip.org/?qs=994cde0d6eadcbbd7851f53682e4a058f03abb0dfd7410c974c45c8c6b817192

CNAS Next Gen Leaders Program and 4 African Presidents parlent à USIP ce jeudi

CNAS Next Gen Leaders Program and 4 African Presidents parlent à USIP ce jeudi

CNAS Launches Third Annual Next Generation National Security Leaders Program: All eligible candidates are invited to apply at

http://www.cnas.rsvp1.com/s1bef553jLHt

Check out their website as this is a cool program and one which offers you access and exposure to DC's brightest.  Granted these smug bastards they didn't select me for it when I applied last year, so I have reason to doubt its selection process but perhaps you, my young (32 years old is the age cap for this program) readers, stand a better chance.  I would apply again this year but I am bitter and wanted to give everyone else a shot and I want to hold it over their heads one day when I am the SDO/DATT in South Africa and they need my help to set up a safari or something  will be leaving the DC area in December. 

USIP hosts 4 Francophone Presidents this Thursday

RSVP Now

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. 

The U.S. Institute of Peace is pleased to host the presidents of these four countries at 2:00 pm on Thursday, July 28.   

This event will feature the following speakers:

Boni Yayi

President of Benin

Alpha Conde

President of Guinea

Issoufou Mahamadou

President of Niger

Alassane Ouattara

President of Cote d'Ivoire

Webcast: You may participate in this event in two ways. You can register to attend the event, or you may watch the live webcast beginning at 2:00 pm EST on July 28, 2011 at www.usip.org/webcast . Please note this webcast will be spoken in part French, and will not feature translation

LINKS:

http://click.newsletters.usip.org/?qs=0eb86b471470221bca7f9554036c9262b95265b1dad16b66472dfbb0a926f289  

http://click.newsletters.usip.org/?qs=0eb86b471470221bb19ff51f38d8848f6cde2b49aaa9a1f3425abefc0342140d

http://www.cnas.rsvp1.com/s1bef553jLHt

United States Institute of Peace Online Courses

United States Institute of Peace Online Courses

Has anyone completed any of USIP’s online courses?  I am going to try one soon and will give feedback on it here.  Following are the subjects for which they offer online courses:

Certificate Course in Conflict Analysis - Academics and professionals in the field of conflict management face extraordinary challenges in dealing with the various phases of conflict, whether it is rebuilding in the aftermath, stopping conflict in progress, or preventing conflict before it begins.

Certificate Course in Negotiation and Conflict Management - Whether in far-reaching international diplomacy or the immediate response to a local crisis, developing successful alternatives to violent conflict requires firm command of the practice of negotiation. This course provides a thorough conceptual framework to help practitioners structure their efforts in negotiation.

Certificate Course in Interfaith Conflict Resolution - Religion is frequently cited as a cause of violent conflict, yet dialogue between faith communities often reveals that religion is not a primary source of tension. Moreover, faith-based approaches to peacemaking can be invaluable in promoting understanding and reconciliation.

Introductory Course on the OSCE - This course was originally developed by the Institute to provide training for U.S. candidates for positions with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and its Rapid Expert Assistance and Cooperation Teams (REACT) in particular.