About the Event
In July 2013, the election of Ibrahim Boubacar Keita (IBK) to lead the Republic of Mali put an end to a political crisis precipitated by an unexpected military coup in March 2012. Close to two years into Keita’s presidency, and over three years since the start of the Tuareg rebellion in northern Mali, negotiations are ongoing between the Malian government and armed political groups from the north. What are the prospects for long term peace in Mali? What role should civil society organizations play in the reconciliation process? Is there a role for the Malian diaspora?
Panelists
His Excellency Abdoulaye Oumar Diop
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mali
Kadiatou Traoré
President of the Malian Association of Washington, DC
and VOA Broadcaster
With opening remarks by
Tom Garrett
Vice President for Programs, International Republican Institute
About the Speakers
Abdoulaye Oumar Diop is a Malian diplomat who has served as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mali since 2014. In this post, Mr. Diop has overseen the Algiers negotiations between the Malian government and armed political groups from northern Mali. Previously, he was director and country representative of the UN World Food Program in Ethiopia and Malawi, respectively. As Mali’s Ambassador to the United States (2003-2009), Diop led diplomatic efforts for the signing of a USD$461 million Millennium Challenge Corporation award. Diop also servied as a senior diplomatic advisor to Alpha Oumar Konaré and Amadou Toumani Touré, Presidents of Mali. In 2000 and 2001, Diop led Mali’s participation in the United Nations Security Council and served on the steering committee of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). He holds an M.A. in International Relations from the International Institute of Public Administration in Paris, France, an M.A. in Diplomacy and Management of International Organizations from the Paris-Sud 11 University and a B.A. in Diplomacy from the National School of Administration of Algeria.
Kadiatou Traore has served as a consultant in Gender Policy Development for 20 years. She is a trainer, facilitator, and activist for women rights, and has consulted companies in gender, peace and security issues. She also serves as an international broadcast journalist at Voice of America. Previously, she worked for the Woman Watch Africa Inc. as Outreach Community Director where she implemented specific-need interventions to address domestic violence and abuse to women refugee from Africa. Before that, she was Founder and Executive Director at the Association for Solidarity Action and Aid, Childhood Mali in Bamako. Mrs. Traore was appointed Counselor at Higher Council of Communication in Mali where she was charging to develop the National Policy and strategies of communication for development. Traore holds an MBA with concentration in policy analysis and program evaluation from Strayer University in Washington D.C and a graduate certificate in Public Health from the University of Maryland University College. She received her BS in Psycho-Pedagogy from University of Mali.
Tom Garrett joined the IRI in November 1994. He currently serves as vice president for programs. Prior to being named vice president, Garrett served as IRI’s regional director for the Middle East and North Africa. Garrett first served as IRI’s resident country director for Ukraine; he later oversaw programs in Belarus and Moldova as well as in Ukraine. He left the Ukraine program in January 2000 to serve as IRI’s resident advisor to the Ikh Hural, Mongolia’s parliament, based in Ulaanbaatar. In October 2000, Garrett moved to Jakarta as IRI’s resident program director. While posted to Indonesia, he conducted program assessment missions for IRI in Fiji, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, and provided training on campaign finance reform in Timor-Leste. Prior to joining IRI, Garrett served as legislative assistant for Native American issues to Senator Frank Murkowski (R-AK). In 1989, Garrett served as special assistant to the assistant secretary for Indian affairs at the U.S. Department of Interior. Later, he was appointed as director of congressional and legislative affairs for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. A native Oklahoman, Garrett began his career in Texas and Oklahoma where he worked as a consultant on statewide campaigns.
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