    [House Hearing, 115 Congress]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

               THE FUTURE OF DEMOCRACY AND GOVERNANCE IN LIBERIA

    =======================================================================

                                     HEARING

                                   BEFORE THE

                     SUBCOMMITTEE ON AFRICA, GLOBAL HEALTH,
                            GLOBAL HUMAN RIGHTS, AND
                          INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

                                     OF THE

                          COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS
                            HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                         ONE HUNDRED FIFTEENTH CONGRESS

                                 FIRST SESSION

                                   __________

                               SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

                                   __________

                               Serial No. 115-63

                                   __________

            Printed for the use of the Committee on Foreign Affairs

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    Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.foreignaffairs.house.gov/
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                          COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS

                     EDWARD R. ROYCE, California, Chairman
    CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, New Jersey     ELIOT L. ENGEL, New York
    ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, Florida         BRAD SHERMAN, California
    DANA ROHRABACHER, California         GREGORY W. MEEKS, New York
    STEVE CHABOT, Ohio                   ALBIO SIRES, New Jersey
    JOE WILSON, South Carolina           GERALD E. CONNOLLY, Virginia
    MICHAEL T. McCAUL, Texas             THEODORE E. DEUTCH, Florida
    TED POE, Texas                       KAREN BASS, California
    DARRELL E. ISSA, California          WILLIAM R. KEATING, Massachusetts
    TOM MARINO, Pennsylvania             DAVID N. CICILLINE, Rhode Island
    JEFF DUNCAN, South Carolina          AMI BERA, California
    MO BROOKS, Alabama                   LOIS FRANKEL, Florida
    PAUL COOK, California                TULSI GABBARD, Hawaii
    SCOTT PERRY, Pennsylvania            JOAQUIN CASTRO, Texas
    RON DeSANTIS, Florida                ROBIN L. KELLY, Illinois
    MARK MEADOWS, North Carolina         BRENDAN F. BOYLE, Pennsylvania
    TED S. YOHO, Florida                 DINA TITUS, Nevada
    ADAM KINZINGER, Illinois             NORMA J. TORRES, California
    LEE M. ZELDIN, New York              BRADLEY SCOTT SCHNEIDER, Illinois
    DANIEL M. DONOVAN, Jr., New York     THOMAS R. SUOZZI, New York
    F. JAMES SENSENBRENNER, Jr.,         ADRIANO ESPAILLAT, New York
        Wisconsin                        TED LIEU, California
    ANN WAGNER, Missouri
    BRIAN J. MAST, Florida
    FRANCIS ROONEY, Florida
    BRIAN K. FITZPATRICK, Pennsylvania
    THOMAS A. GARRETT, Jr., Virginia

         Amy Porter, Chief of Staff      Thomas Sheehy, Staff Director

                   Jason Steinbaum, Democratic Staff Director
                                     ------

        Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and
                          International Organizations

                   CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, New Jersey, Chairman
    MARK MEADOWS, North Carolina         KAREN BASS, California
    DANIEL M. DONOVAN, Jr., New York     AMI BERA, California
    F. JAMES SENSENBRENNER, Jr.,         JOAQUIN CASTRO, Texas
        Wisconsin                        THOMAS R. SUOZZI, New York
    THOMAS A. GARRETT, Jr., Virginia

                               C O N T E N T S

                                  ----------
                                                                       Page

                                   WITNESSES

    The Honorable Donald Yamamoto, Acting Assistant Secretary, Bureau
      of African Affairs, U.S. Department of State...................     5
    Ms. Cheryl Anderson, Acting Assistant Administrator, Bureau for
      Africa, U.S. Agency for International Development..............    14
    Mr. Dave Peterson, senior director, Africa Programs?, National
      Endowment for Democracy........................................    28
    Ms. Aurelia Curtis, founder and executive director, Weeks
      Educational and Social Advocacy Project........................    35
    Mr. Rushdi Nackerdien, regional director for Africa,
      International Foundation for Electoral Systems.................    45
    Christopher Fomunyoh, Ph.D., senior associate and regional
      director for Central and West Africa, National Democratic
      Institute......................................................    59

              LETTERS, STATEMENTS, ETC., SUBMITTED FOR THE HEARING

    The Honorable Donald Yamamoto: Prepared statement................     7
    Ms. Cheryl Anderson: Prepared statement..........................    16
    Mr. Dave Peterson: Prepared statement............................    32
    Ms. Aurelia Curtis: Prepared statement...........................    39
    Mr. Rushdi Nackerdien: Prepared statement........................    48
    Christopher Fomunyoh, Ph.D.: Prepared statement..................    61

                                    APPENDIX

    Hearing notice...................................................    74
    Hearing minutes..................................................    75

               THE FUTURE OF DEMOCRACY AND GOVERNANCE IN LIBERIA

                                  ----------

                         WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

                           House of Representatives,

                     Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health,

             Global Human Rights, and International Organizations,

                         Committee on Foreign Affairs,

                                Washington, DC.

        The subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 2:00 p.m., in
    room 2172 Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Christopher H.
    Smith (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding.
        Mr. Smith. The subcommittee will come to order, and good
    afternoon to everyone.
        On the eve of the Liberian election, I want especially
    thank Congressman Dan Donovan for recommending this important
    hearing for our subcommittee before those elections and also to
    speak to the future of democracy and governance in Liberia.
        As we all know, of the more than 50 nations in Africa, the
    United States has the closest connection with the Republic of
    Liberia.
        This is not only because Liberia was founded in 1847 by
    freed men and former slaves from this country, but also because
    of the estimated 500,000 Liberians and Liberian descendants who
    live here.
        Liberian cities such as Monrovia and Buchanan were named
    for American Presidents and--in part of my district that I had
    for 30 years before it was redistricted out--the city of
    Trenton has a very large Liberian diaspora population with whom
    I got very close, and still do a great deal of case work for
    even though I don't represent them because that bond is so
    strong.
        However, most Americans are largely unaware of the long
    link between United States and Liberia and likely see Liberia
    as just another African country.
        Most Americans are unaware that Liberia has been a major
    U.S. ally since World War II and into the Cold War, hosting
    U.S. communications facilities in the 1960s and 1970s, and has
    received extensive U.S. development assistance including post-
    war aid and Ebola aid to Liberia.
        The United States has also helped Liberia build its
    criminal justice sector and supported transitional justice
    efforts.
        U.S. has funded just over a quarter of the cost of United
    Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) at a cost of about $106
    million annually as of fiscal year 2016.
        Liberia is also implementing a $256.7 million 5-year MCC
    compact signed in 2015 designed to increase access to reliable
    affordable electricity and enhance the country's poor road
    infrastructure.
        Bilateral State Department and United States AGency for
    International Development (USAID) assistance totaled $91
    million in Fiscal Year 2016. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
    has made some advancement in democracy and governing during her
    two terms, and we applaud her for that, following the despotic
    rule of Charles Taylor.
        During his term of office, Taylor was accused of war crimes
    and crimes against humanity as a result of his involvement in
    the Sierra Leone civil war from 1991 to 2002. He was also
    responsible for serious human rights violations in Liberia as
    well.
        Charles Taylor was formally indicted by the Special Court
    for Sierra Leone in 2003, and I would note parenthetically that
    the chief prosecutor has been before this subcommittee, David
    Crane, many times and has provided useful insights as to what
    we need to do with regards to Syria and war crimes tribunals in
    another part of the world, all of that information, all of that
    wisdom gleaned from his work on the Special Court, which not
    only indicted but prosecuted successfully many, and eventually
    Charles Taylor, who as we all know, got 50 years and is
    currently serving that sentence at The Hague.
        The United States occasionally arrested the alleged
    perpetrators of civil rights human rights abuses, often using
    the immigration perjury charges as a vehicle for prosecution.
    One of them was Charles McArther Emmanuel, also known as
    Chuckie Taylor, the son of Charles Taylor.
        Raised in Florida, Emmanuel became the commander of the
    infamously violent Anti-Terrorist Unit, commonly known in
    Liberia as the Demon Forces.
        He is currently serving a 97-year sentence back in Florida
    for his role in human rights violations carried out by that so-
    called Anti-Terrorist Unit.
        President Sirleaf was unable to, under the constitution,
    run for a third term. But unlike many other leaders around the
    world, including in Africa, she did not push to change the
    constitution to allow a third term.
        We don't know yet whether her successors can and will
    continue her upward trend. Most candidates for President have
    highlighted corruption.
        But as our witnesses from the National Democratic Institute
    (NDI) can tell us, these candidates have platforms that are
    light on policy specifics.
        Consequently, today's hearing is intended to examine the
    prospects for democracy and governance in Liberia following the
    October elections which we hope will be free and fair and
    transparent.
        The United States is a key provider of technical assistance
    to Liberia's national election commission including the
    International Foundation for Electoral Systems program funded
    by USAID and the U.N. Development Programme backed by nearly
    $12 million in mostly European Union funding under a multi-
    faceted project from 2015 to 2018.
        The election commission also receives broader institutional
    capacity building support under a second $4 million USAID-
    funded program, the Liberian Administrative and Systems
    Strengthening.
        Our Government has a significant investment in Liberia on
    several fronts. The future direction of this important country
    is important to the United States.
        Therefore, we have a stake in the next government, building
    on the advances made in democracy and governance, again, under
    President Johnson Sirleaf.
        Most of all, there must be much more done to minimize the
    impact of corruption in Liberia. It is a serious issue and
    hopefully our Government, working in tandem with a new
    government, will really do a major effort along those lines.
        I would like to yield to our distinguished ranking member,
    Ms. Bass.
        Ms. Bass. Thank you very much, Mr. Chair, and especially
    for this timely hearing, considering that we are a few weeks
    away from an election in Liberia.
        So on October 10th we know that Liberians will select a new
    President, Vice President, and Members of their House. The
    upcoming elections mark an important moment for the country
    because they are expected to lead to the country's first
    electoral transfer of power.
        And before we delve into democracy, governance, and the
    future of Liberia, I actually wanted to take a moment to
    highlight Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as she ends her second
    term in presidency.
        It was such an international event when she became the
    first female President on the continent of Africa. In 2005, she
    was charged with the seemingly insurmountable challenge of
    building a country impacted by 14 years of civil war where more
    than 200,000 people were killed.
        Most of the national infrastructure was destroyed and the
    country was burdened by enormous debt. I remember when
    President Johnson Sirleaf came to the United States and to the
    House many times when Power Africa was established because, if
    you remember, Liberia was not included in the Power Africa
    proposal, and she walked the halls of Congress until that was
    changed and Liberia was included.
        During her 12 years of the presidency, a decade of
    sanctions was lifted and deemed no longer necessary. The
    economy has drastically improved and averaged more than 7
    percent annual growth.
        Per capita income has risen from a low point of just $80 at
    the end of the second civil war in 2003 to $700 even though the
    population has increased by nearly 50 percent to just under 5
    million and life expectancy is up from 53 to 61 years.
        And I think that is particularly remarkable, given the
    setback that the Ebola crisis presented, and the Ebola crisis
    was certainly an example of what happens when the health
    infrastructure deteriorates how that was--that disease spread
    so quickly but yet the country rebounded in spite of it.
        We know that the country has also made great progress in
    rebuilding its infrastructure and its democratic institutions.
    And finally, President Sirleaf has been a strong proponent of
    equal rights for women and a champion for youth.
        We all applaud and acknowledge her hard work which has also
    been recognized by the international community, most notably
    when she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
        I also want to point out--I was in Ghana in January for the
    inauguration of the President, and President Sirleaf there as
    the head of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
    and to see the leadership that she took as the head of ECOWAS
    in resolving the conflict in the Gambia, which certainly could
    have deteriorated in a terrible way.
        Returning to the topic of this hearing, which is the future
    of democracy and governance in Liberia, I want to highlight
    that another extremely important and final act that the
    President will take is to adhere to Liberia's constitution and
    step aside in order to allow the democratic process to continue
    as the people of Liberia choose their next President.
        I am happy to say also that President Johnson Sirleaf will
    be here next Friday as part of the annual legislative
    conference of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and we
    look forward to her remarks that she will make in a
    presentation a week from Friday in the morning.
        I was honored to be a part of NDI's delegation to Kenya to
    observe the election. I am sorry I won't be able to participate
    this time in October.
        I look forward to hearing from the representative from the
    National Endowment for Democracy (NED), who I am sure will talk
    about the upcoming observations.
        I am also glad to see that we have an acting Assistant
    Secretary--we have all been worried about that for a while--and
    an acting Assistant Administrator to USAID. So I look forward
    to your comments.
        Thank you.
        Mr. Smith. Thank you very much, Ms. Bass.
        I would like to yield to Congressman Dan Donovan.
        Mr. Donovan. Chairman, I am going to yield my time for when
    I chair the second panel. I will do my opening statement. Thank
    you, sir.
        Mr. Smith. Thank you.
        I would like to welcome our two distinguished witnesses
    and, certainly, Donald Yamamoto is no stranger to this
    subcommittee and to the work that he will be speaking to and I
    want to thank him for his leadership.
        He is the acting Assistant Secretary to Bureau of African
    Affairs at State. He also served as Principal Deputy Assistant
    Secretary of State in the Bureau of African Affairs from 2003
    to 2006 where he was responsible for coordinating U.S. policy
    toward more than 20 countries in East and Central Africa.
        He served as our Ambassador to Ethiopia from 2006 to 2009
    and also the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Djibouti from
    2000 to 2003 and was the Deputy Director for East African
    Affairs from 1998 to 2000 and he has, again, testified several
    times before this committee and, again, we thank him for his
    service.
        Then Cheryl Anderson who is the acting Assistant
    Administrator for the Bureau of Africa at the U.S. Agency for
    International Development.
        Ms. Anderson has more than 20 years of development
    experience, mostly in Africa. Before joining USAID as a Foreign
    Service Officer, she worked in USAID missions in the Democratic
    Republic of Congo, Uganda, Sudan, and East Africa.
        Prior to joining USAID, she worked as a program manager for
    Healthlink Worldwide and also served as a Peace Corps volunteer
    in Ghana.
        Mr. Secretary, if you could begin.

     STATEMENT OF THE HONORABLE DONALD YAMAMOTO, ACTING ASSISTANT
     SECRETARY, BUREAU OF AFRICAN AFFAIRS, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

        Mr. Yamamoto. Thank you very much.
        I would like to submit the longer statement for the record.
        Mr. Smith. Without objection, so ordered.
        Mr. Yamamoto. Representative Smith, thank you very much.
    Congresswoman Bass and Congressman Donovan, thank you very
    much. It is a great honor to be back here today.
        Good afternoon. Although the 2014-15 Ebola epidemic had a
    massive human impact and slowed economic growth worldwide, the
    response led by the United States helped Liberia overcome Ebola
    and return the country to the path of building confidence.
        It is hard to overstate the enormity of the challenge
    President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf inherited in 2005. We applaud
    the respect she had demonstrated for Liberia's constitution
    throughout her tenure and the positive example she has set for
    the continent of Africa by her unbending respect for
    Presidential term limits.
        Next month, Liberia's citizens will go the polls to
    facilitate Liberia's first peaceful transition of power between
    democratically-elected leaders since 1944.
        Despite how far Liberia has come, many challenges remain
    that will fall to President Sirleaf's successor to address. On
    the elections and security, the Presidential candidates vying
    to replace President Sirleaf have been campaigning vigorously
    since the start of the formal campaign period at the end of
    July.
        We are pleased that 20 registered political parties
    declared their commitment to a peaceful electoral process and
    many of them reaffirmed this commitment on the margins of the
    ECOWAS summit in June 2017.
        While the United States does not support any specific party
    or candidate, we are pleased to see a robust participation in
    this election.
        Liberians from all walks of life are aware of the
    importance of these elections and the United States stands by
    those committed to support a peaceful, credible, and
    transparent electoral process.
        Despite very real challenges, President Sirleaf and her
    administration are committed to conducting a peaceful,
    credible, and transparent election.
        The government has also taken steps to build systems and
    processes led by the Governance Commission for the handover of
    power that will occur in January 2018.
        There are significant challenges still facing the National
    Electoral Commission notably: Poor infrastructure, inadequate
    funding, heavy rain that could complicate election logistics.
        However, we are encouraged that the NEC successfully
    carried out a free and fair legislative bi-election this past
    February.
        We are providing comprehensive program support to the
    Liberian National Election Commission, civil society
    organizations, media outlets in the run-up to the 2017
    elections.
        In addition, our Ambassador is meeting with candidates
    running for President to emphasize the importance of peaceful
    elections and transitioning government that builds upon the
    progress made in the last 12 years.
        As UNMIL looks to close out its mandate at the end of March
    2018, it should be considered a success story. It has kept the
    peace and gradually but steadily transferred key
    responsibilities back to government.
        The U.N. Mission to Liberia presently is mandated, notably,
    to protect civilians, advise the Liberian National Police on
    election security, and promote sustainable peace through its
    radio station.
        Since July 2016, the Government of Liberia has been fully
    responsible for the internal security and we have seen no
    discernible change in this society's situation since then.
        A joint security task force chaired by the Liberian
    National Police is also actively overseeing the election
    security planning. This is a positive sign for prospects of
    maintaining peace and stability during the electoral period.
        On governance, the next President of Liberia will inherit a
    more stable and secure Liberia than that which President
    Sirleaf inherited in 2005.
        While some drivers of instability have diminished, others
    will need continued attention. These include deficiencies in
    the administration of justice, official corruption, land
    disputes, intertribal, interethnic, and interreligious
    tensions, poverty coupled with income disparity, and a large
    youth populations disproportionately affected by unemployment.
        Liberia has come a long way in rebuilding state
    institutions after years of conflict. Nevertheless, the gains
    are fragile and there is still room for much improvement.
        Official and systemic corruption drains limited public
    resources, deters investment and contributes to a culture in
    which working in government can be perceived more as a route to
    self-enrichment than public service.
        There is continued need to strengthen institutions critical
    to democratic governance to ensure improvements are sustained.
        As we look ahead, I can assure you the United States
    remains steadfast in its support for the people of Liberia in
    their efforts to consolidate further democratic gains, ensure
    their government remains accountable to its citizens, reduce
    corruption, ensure the responsible stewardship of scarce public
    resources.
        And with that, I welcome your questions.
        [The prepared statement of Mr. Yamamoto follows:]
        [GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

                                  ----------

        Mr. Smith. Thank you very much, Mr. Ambassador.
        Ms. Anderson.

          STATEMENT OF MS. CHERYL ANDERSON, ACTING ASSISTANT
    ADMINISTRATOR, BUREAU FOR AFRICA, U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL
                              DEVELOPMENT

        Ms. Anderson. Good afternoon, Chairman Smith, Ranking
    Member Bass, Congressman Donovan.
        Thank you for inviting me to speak today. I appreciate your
    considered interest in how U.S. policies and assistance
    programs can help Liberians consolidate a peaceful and stable
    democracy in which prosperity is available to all.
        USAID's development partnership with Liberia dates back to
    our founding in 1961. As the largest bilateral donor in
    Liberia, today the United States plays an influential role in
    many aspects of the country's development.
        Our programs address the underlying structural and
    institutional problems that gave rise to 14 years of civil
    strife and war while at the same time tackling the country's
    more immediate development needs and challenges.
        As the new government is formed following the upcoming
    election, the United States will build strategically on the
    current strong relationship.
        We will identify opportunities to enhance transparency,
    strengthen checks and balances and support Liberians both
    inside and outside of government institutions.
        This includes our work with the nation's next generation of
    democratic leaders. If successful, this election will result in
    the country's first peaceful democratically elected transition
    of power in more than 70 years, marking a critical milestone in
    the country's progress toward a stable democracy.
        Recent USAID assessments indicate that citizens are excited
    about the election and remain actively engaged in the political
    process.
        While the campaign period had proceeded smoothly to date
    with political parties and candidates conducting themselves
    peacefully, the National Elections Commission is still fairly
    limited in its capacity.
        There may by logistical challenges exacerbated by the
    limited infrastructure across the country, especially given the
    timing of the elections during the rainy season.
        USAID continues to support elections preparations including
    support to address necessary preparation that is facing the
    National Elections Commission.
        This support has three core pillars. The first improves the
    performance, transparency, and accountability of the
    commission, which, in turn, builds public confidence in the
    elections.
        Second, we support citizen participation in electoral
    processes as voters, as activists, and as candidates, and
    third, we strengthen civil society and media monitoring of the
    electoral process.
        USAID has partnered with local media and civil society
    organizations including youth, women, and trade unions to
    educate first-time and hard-to-reach voters about the stakes in
    the 2017 elections, and encourage their peaceful participation.
        Also, we continue to build the communication capacity of
    the Elections Commission. This includes support for regular
    meetings between the commission and political parties to share
    information and to help resolve electoral issues before they
    escalate.
        USAID supported domestic and international observation
    missions, continued to provide reports on the pre-electoral
    process.
        The Sirleaf administration remains publicly committed to
    conducting a free, fair, and transparent election in October
    and to an orderly transition of power to the incoming
    administration. USAID remains committed to partnering with
    Liberia during that transition.
        I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge and thank you
    for the critical support provided by Congress through the
    United States emergency assistance to Liberia during and after
    the Ebola epidemic.
        With donor support, the government was able to control the
    epidemic, which many predicted would have been far worse. We
    must continue to invest in strengthening institutions to
    further improve public administration and communication
    functions at national and local levels and to enable citizens
    to hold their government accountable.
        This will enable the government to respond to potential
    future emergencies and ensure the cooperation of the public in
    adhering to public health guidance.
        In summary, we believe that the Government of Liberia can
    create conditions for a credible electoral process from the
    pre-election period through the transparent tabulation and
    announcement of results.
        USAID will continue to support these efforts. We will urge
    the newly-elected administration to consolidate democratic
    gains through effective and accountable governance that is
    responsive to the citizens and to adhere to the rule of law.
        This includes developing and utilizing systems that reduce
    opportunities for corruption and waste of limited public
    resources.
        Thank you, Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member Bass, and members
    of the subcommittee for the continued commitment you have shown
    to the Liberian people.
        I welcome any questions you might have.
        [The prepared statement of Ms. Anderson follows:]
        [GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

                                  ----------

        Mr. Smith. Ms. Anderson, thank you very much for your
    testimony.
        Just a few opening questions. One, you talked about the
    reports on the free election progress. Are those reports
    encouraging? Are they showing a willingness, for example, of
    the various candidates?
        I know State has met with the Liberian candidates to adhere
    to the rule of law. If they don't like the outcome, will they
    adhere to the outcome, providing it was free, fair, and
    transparent?
        What have those reports suggested that we are on track for
    a good election or are there some warning signs?
        Mr. Yamamoto. We have reporting coming in from Ambassador
    Christine Elder and her team, who have been in close contact
    with the National Electoral Commission and also with President
    Johnson Sirleaf, who has a big stake in ensuring the next
    elections are free, fair, and transparent and accountable to
    the people.
        So far, everything looks on track. Obviously, from the
    Carter report, NDI report, and also our own reports there are
    challenges and problems ahead.
        But overall, it looks to be on target. We have over 20,000,
    of course, poll workers are being trained through USAID and
    IFES and, of course, we are looking carefully at all of the
    over 5,360 polling areas to make sure that they are
    appropriate.
        I think one of the big factors would be the rains--if it is
    raining, how people are going to get to the polling. That is
    going to be a challenge, given there are only 7 percent of
    paved roads in Liberia. But it is on target.
        Mr. Smith. Okay.
        Let me ask you, with the U.N. Mission to Liberia, which we
    all know has played an integral part in disarming the more than
    100,000 former combatants and has trained and professionalized
    Liberia's police force to ensure law and order and to advance
    women's participation in government and civil society, with
    UNMIL drawing down currently and on track to be entirely out
    next year, how prepared do you think the government will be.
    The bureaucracy and, of course, who heads the government will
    be extremely important to handle security on its own,
    especially since some of the candidates have poor records of
    human rights.
        We don't know who's going to win. We don't take sides. But
    there is a concern--I have it at least and I am sure others do
    as well--about some people who have had very poor records of
    human rights who could be head of state.
        Mr. Yamamoto. The program for UNMIL has been a success
    story and their extension past the election was really to
    ensure that there remains confidence in the process.
        The issue is that it has been on target to remove--they
    have a token force now and I think they have done their mission
    and it is really up to the Liberian security forces.
        In the last elections and currently, we assess that the
    defense force as well as the police still need training and
    guidance and mentoring. We will be on top of that with the 200
    troops and over 600 police.
        Our reports right now are that they are up to the target to
    meet the needs and, again, we will continue to be there. This
    remains a priority, even after UNMIL leaves.
        Mr. Smith. Let me just ask you briefly about the ability to
    register and vote. Are we convinced that the process is, again,
    transparent so that people who have signed up will find out
    when they show up at the polls there is their name, they can
    make their selection, and have confidence it will be counted
    correctly?
        Ms. Anderson. I think we can be relatively optimistic now.
    We have been through the voter registration period with our
    support.
        I think we have seen fairly good turnout on the voter
    registration with an emphasis on hard to reach voters, first
    time voters, and also on women voters.
        I can tell you that one of the kind of new technologies
    that we have supported is that Liberians can now use their cell
    phones, and many of them do have cell phones, and put in a
    message that includes their voter registration ID number and
    then get a message back that tells them where is the location
    for them to go and vote.
        Mr. Yamamoto. And just to add to that, it is, again, the
    appeal process and we have been working very closely with
    President Johnson Sirleaf on the judicial process and due
    process, and if there are any problems from--expressed by the
    candidates on one of the candidates, then that will be
    addressed quickly and efficiently and effectively, we hope, and
    we will be there by the NEC and of also the judicial process.
        Mr. Smith. And last question before going to Ms. Bass.
    Ebola and the work that was done--just nothing but kudos for
    the great work that you did, the administration did, the
    military deployment, all of it was just textbook on how to try
    to mitigate a crisis from killing even more people.
        We know Ebola is not gone. Are we convinced that we have
    early warning capabilities that, should it reemerge, that it
    could be quickly mitigated and hopefully eliminated?
        Ms. Anderson. First of all, thank you for the generous
    support and guidance on the Ebola response. There hasn't been a
    new case in Liberia in 1\1/2\ years and we certainly recognize
    that countries with weak health systems and with low confidence
    in the public--in their public health systems that was where we
    had the big problems.
        So this is no time for complacence. We have invested
    significant sources in the health systems and we are also
    building the citizens' confidence in their own services.
        So I think there have been several recent outbreaks; Lassa
    fever and cholera where we were quite worried about spread and
    the Liberian public health system has been able to detect them
    through their surveillance system and successfully manage to
    control them.
        So our efforts really are to help the public health system
    prevent, detect, and respond to disease and we will continue
    that.
        Mr. Yamamoto. Mr. Chairman, I can't overemphasize the great
    work that you have done and, of course, Congresswoman Bass,
    because you have really highlighted a lot of the issues and
    challenges and really brought forth the things that we really
    need to focus on and it has really brought the international
    community focused on this and also all our groups.
        And more important is the emphasis that you have all placed
    on institution-building, democratic values and really through
    this, strong institutions, we can guarantee and support
    anything that happens--pandemics or famines or other issues.
    And so thank you very much for your great work.
        Mr. Smith. Again, thank you, Mr. Ambassador and Ms.
    Anderson, for the great work you guys did. It is all about
    teamwork and I think this is one of those times where everyone
    came together and united to ensure that innocent people had not
    succumbed to that horrible and dreaded disease.
        Ms. Bass.
        Ms. Bass. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
        And, actually, since you were talking about infrastructure,
    one, it is very good to hear that there has not been any new
    cases of Ebola.
        When I was in Liberia in August of last year, they were
    concerned about relapse or it being transmitted after, you
    know, the fact. And so hearing that there haven't been any new
    cases is really good.
        Not quite on our topic, but since you were talking about
    infrastructure, I was just wondering what more you think needs
    to be done now post-Ebola in terms of the health
    infrastructure.
        Mr. Yamamoto. I defer to my colleague just on the basic
    programs that we are going to do on health. But I think overall
    it is simple things. The power generation, the MCC, and the
    $257 million in electrification.
        You know, when we were out there in Liberia when Charles
    Taylor was transitioning out, there was no electricity and we
    were just amazed and shocked that this could ever happen. And
    it has, and thanks to you, the MCC program, et cetera.
        The other issue, too, part of the MCC has been roads,
    really to bring the rural and the urban together but more
    important is to get access to those in rural areas, to bring
    them back for rapid treatment, et cetera.
        So those are things to bring the country together and I
    think those are the infrastructure. The others are economic
    development and raising capacity building, particularly in the
    health sector.
        I turn to my colleague on the other issue.
        Ms. Anderson. I agree that our emphasis has to be on
    building local capacity so that Liberians can define their own
    future and their own path forward.
        There is a lot more work to be done, obviously, in
    infrastructure and in the capacity and training of the
    individuals in the public health system, at the same time
    working to mitigate corruption and waste in governance and also
    building the capacity of Liberian institutions to hold their
    government accountable to the people.
        Ms. Bass. Thank you. Thank you very much.
        So I wanted to ask you now about U.S. Government assistance
    to Liberia, in particular in the area of good governance and
    democratization, and you could address that both from the USAID
    perspective and others.
        So wanting you to describe the continuity and change in
    U.S. policy toward Liberia between our two administrations and
    what is proposed in the budget around democracy and governance
    and where we are, and if that has impacted what we are doing in
    Liberia today.
        And I believe, Mr. Ambassador, you were mentioning poll
    workers that have been supported by our funding but I did not
    quite hear what you said in terms of the number.
        Mr. Yamamoto. Yes. So right now, over 20,000 poll workers
    are being trained. Obviously, one of the problems for the NEC
    is to get numbers and also the training.
        But I defer to USAID since it is coming from USAID and
    IFES.
        Ms. Bass. Okay.
        Ms. Anderson. We have a longstanding partnership with
    Liberia, and Liberia will continue to be a relative priority
    for us.
        Democracy rights and governance is an important element of
    our programming in Liberia and it has really been an area of
    emphasis, working on governance, public financial management,
    building the capacity of the judiciary, working especially on
    anti-corruption, supporting civil society and the media, and
    our aim really, as I said, is a government that is responsive
    and accountable to its citizens and we will continue this into
    the next administration in Liberia.
        Ms. Bass. So what concern that some of us have begun to
    have on the Hill is, one, there are the proposed cuts and,
    obviously, that is still working its way through the process,
    but whether or not in USAID you will be allowed to spend money
    that has already been allocated as opposed to slowing that
    process down because we have heard that in terms of the
    expenditures that are not being really implemented is one
    question. And I have a follow-up question to that.
        Ms. Anderson. Yes. I think we are still continuing to be
    responsible for delivering development results with the funding
    that has already been appropriated and, as we go forward, if
    the levels are reduced we will just have to make sure that we
    are increasingly using our money more efficiently and more
    effectively.
        Ms. Bass. And so you got what I was saying? I mean----
        Ms. Anderson. Yes, I did.
        Ms. Bass. Not the future. Money that is already there----
        Ms. Anderson. Yes.
        Ms. Bass [continuing]. And are you free to spend it? I
    don't know if you are involved at all with the famine effort.
    But we allocated close to $1 billion and we are hearing that
    that is being slow walked.
        It is an emergency, and so is it getting out of the door or
    is it being held back and will it be carried over into the next
    fiscal year? I am saying that in reference to famine but we
    have heard that about the democracy funding as well.
        Mr. Yamamoto. Can I have 1 more minute, Congresswoman?
        So we have dedicated about $2 billion since 2003 and if you
    look at the last 10 years it is about $1.5 billion. But
    overall, the aid assistance, even toward the end of the last
    administration, was going down.
        So the question comes in is, is for us we are looking at
    dwindling resources across the board but Liberia, for us,
    remains a priority country.
        We still have, as you know, three bilateral commissions
    and, of course, Liberia becomes a fourth and that is critical
    and that is because of the work President Johnson Sirleaf has
    done and then all the good results she has gone through and we
    want continue that.
        So long as we are here, we are going to continue to commit
    to that. I mean, just looking to--at our own assistance as far
    as assistance to the military training, to other areas, yes, it
    is probably going to take some cuts. But the issue is that the
    commitment is still there and it continues into the next
    physical year.
        I can't say what the amounts are going to be exactly. We
    will have to come back to you once those numbers are defined,
    but to assure you that for us, as long as we are here, that is
    a priority country.
        Ms. Bass. Okay. So I hear you say that the commitment is
    there and commitment without resources is a little shallow.
        But I also hear you saying that you are able to expend the
    money that is being allocated. Is the famine money spent?
        Ms. Anderson. Yeah. I will----
        Ms. Bass. I am sorry?
        Ms. Anderson [continuing]. Be happy to get back to you on
    that.
        Ms. Bass. Would you? I would appreciate that. I would
    appreciate that.
        And so then my final question is what are we prepared to do
    after the election? I mean, as I mentioned, I was in Kenya and
    thought everything went well. Kind of went awry after the fact.
        But it is one thing to get through the election. Then what
    are we prepared to do after the election?
        Mr. Yamamoto. So the election is an event and from there
    comes really the hard work to ensure that the democratic
    procedures and processes that President Johnson Sirleaf has
    really put in efforts to during her two terms that they will
    continue--that we won't see a backtrack.
        Then the other issue too is that we need to continue to
    strengthen the NEC, the legal process and procedures, because
    that is going to be very important to how we do the structures
    afterwards.
        And, again, we will be visiting Liberia constantly. Our
    Ambassadors will be committed. We are going to look at what we
    have to do--what areas do we need to emphasize and stress.
        We are going to be continuing on MCC, Power Africa, and
    also the girls' education and women's entrepreneur, which is
    their two most important and, really, changing of society as a
    societal program.
        And then we are going to look much more closely too at
    economic development to see how we can address the needs of the
    50 percent youth and high unemployment rates in Liberia.
        Mr. Donovan [presiding]. Thank you, Ms. Bass. Thank you,
    Mr. Ambassador. Thank you, Ms. Anderson.
        Mr. Ambassador, State Department has met with the
    candidates--the Liberian candidates that are running for
    election.
        How confident are you that this relationship between our
    two countries will continue in the next government,
    particularly when you look at some of the human rights concerns
    that many Liberians have about some of the candidates?
        Mr. Yamamoto. Like I said, in two ways. First are that the
    results of those elections are by the people of Liberia
    themselves and I don't think that the people of Liberia are
    ever going to go back to a regression of what it was prior to
    President Johnson Sirleaf.
        And the commitments and the developments that have been
    made--I think the people are committed to those trend lines.
        The second area, too, is that you have a large Liberian
    diaspora in the United States. I think they are very vocal.
    They will keep us on our toes if we are not focused on those
    issues, and my message to the--not only the diaspora--but the
    people of Liberia is that we are still committed to ensuring
    that the results after the elections will be as strong and as
    robust and continue because this remains a priority country.
        Mr. Donovan. Thank you.
        Jewel Taylor, who is the former wife of Charles Taylor,
    current senator and the Vice Presidential candidate, was
    reportedly in the United States this year advocating for the
    release of her husband, her ex--former husband from prison. Can
    you tell us what efforts are being made about Charles Taylor's
    imprisonment and her efforts to have him released?
        Mr. Yamamoto. You mean Charles Taylor, the----
        Mr. Donovan. Yes.
        Mr. Yamamoto. Okay. He is in jail for the long term. We
    have not made any efforts to seek any change or adjustment to
    the due process and what was adjudicated by the court systems.
        Mr. Donovan. Okay. Had his wife met with folks from the
    State, do you know, at all?
        Mr. Yamamoto. We don't normally comment on----
        Mr. Donovan. Okay.
        Mr. Yamamoto [continuing]. People, but let me just say yes,
    we did--we did meet with Jewel Howard Taylor and those
    conversations, I think, are between us.
        Mr. Donovan. We totally understand, Mr. Ambassador. Thank
    you.
        Mr. Yamamoto. But, believe me, messages were passed.
        Mr. Donovan. Great. Thank you.
        Ms. Anderson, USAID is working with the international
    organizations such as the U.N. and other partners to ensure
    that the election process in Liberia next month is smooth,
    credible, and peaceful.
        What more should the United States be doing, leveraging
    partnerships that we have with others to help ensure a
    successful outcome of the election?
        Ms. Anderson. I think that coordination right now is very
    important and we are putting a big effort on coordinating our
    efforts with others--other stakeholders in the process
    including other development partners, donors.
        We--up until now, we are cautiously optimistic. We are
    reading the reports that are coming in. I agree with Ambassador
    Yamamoto that we are concerned about the logistics and the
    relatively weak capacity of the Elections Commission.
        It is still a work in progress, especially in light of the
    infrastructure and the rainy season. So one of the things that
    we have been working on with the commission is communications
    because we have seen in other elections sometimes that is where
    things break down.
        If there is a problem, if there is a delay, people start to
    get nervous and if the commission is not talking about what's
    happening, even if it is a mistake or a problem, that
    communication is very important.
        So we have been working with them on that. At this point, I
    think maybe the only other thing I would mention would be there
    is a limited police presence outside of the capital, Monrovia,
    and we are keeping an eye on that.
        The Liberian Government was asking for additional funding
    to be able to deploy the police that they have been training so
    that they can actually go out to the polling station locations.
    The Japanese Government recently put in a $1.1 million
    contribution to that.
        Mr. Donovan. Thank you.
        My last question is, I know USAID is managing two different
    programs on elections in Liberia, extending to next year. But
    at some point, those programs are going to end.
        What is our confidence level that once those two programs'
    lifetime has expired the skills of the Liberian election
    officials to carry on all the work that you have done for all
    this length of time?
        Ms. Anderson. I think you will hear more about that in the
    next panel with probably more detail than I can give. But our
    emphasis has been on building local capacity because it is the
    Liberians' responsibility to run their elections, to monitor
    them, and to participate in those elections.
        So our emphasis has been on training and also anticipating
    problems to help the commission deal with issues before they
    escalate into big crises.
        We will have to see what the future brings in terms of
    future elections.
        Mr. Donovan. I thank you both, Mr. Ambassador and Ms.
    Anderson. I thank you for your testimony, your insight, and for
    your forthcoming answers to our questions.
        This panel is now adjourned. We will give a 1-minute break
    to allow the next panel to come up. Thank you very much to both
    of you.
        Ms. Anderson. Thank you.
        Mr. Donovan. I would like to take a moment now to thank
    Chairman Smith and Ranking Member Bass for holding this
    hearing.
        I would like to also welcome and thank all of our witnesses
    for being here today. I would especially like to welcome my
    constituent and good friend, Dr. Aurelia Curtis, along with her
    husband, Al, and her family.
        Thank you for making this trip all the way down. Now you
    know what I go through every week.
        I've known Dr. Curtis since my days of serving as chief of
    staff to then Staten Island Borough president, Guy Molinari,
    where she was then the principal of Curtis High School. That is
    how good we are in New York--we name our high schools after our
    principals.
        I asked Dr. Curtis to be a witness here today because of
    her unique perspective as someone who has been an integral part
    of the Liberian community in the United States.
        For those of you who may not know it, Staten Island is home
    to the largest concentration of Liberians outside of Western
    Africa.
        One of the many things that I have learned from Dr. Curtis
    and our local Liberian community is their dedication to
    highlighting the importance of freedom, liberty, and democracy,
    because they have seen first-hand the turbulence and chaos that
    arises when these principles are not upheld.
        In recent years, Liberia has made strides in advancing its
    democratic and development efforts while we must recognize the
    challenges that we face ahead.
        In less than a month, Liberia will hold elections that will
    test the nation's democratic strength and stability. This is an
    opportunity for the country to make history by allowing the
    Liberian people to experience their first post-war democratic
    transfer of power.
        Looking to the future, it is this subcommittee's intention
    to ensure that Liberia is able to further build a strong,
    peaceful, and democratic nation.
        We are fortunate to have a panel of experts including Dr.
    Curtis that will examine some of the issues I touched on as
    well as other important topics.
        I look forward to hearing their insights as well as having
    thoughtful discussions to help put into place policies that
    will ensure Liberia's future as a stable democracy and
    strengthen the United States-Liberian relationships.
        I now yield to the ranking member, Ms. Karen Bass.
        Ms. Bass. Mr. Chair, I will defer my comments until the
    panel has spoken.
        Mr. Donovan. Wonderful.
        I would like to introduce our panel. David Peterson is
    senior director of the National Endowment for Democracy. Since
    1988, he has been responsible for NED's program to identify and
    assist African NGOs.
        He was formally executive director of Project South Africa
    of the A. Philip Randolph Education Fund and a freelance
    journalist in Africa and Turkey.
        He has visited more than 40 African countries and is an
    expert in sub-Saharan Africa.
        Dr. Aurelia Curtis is the founder of the Weeks Educational
    and Social Advocacy Project, Incorporated. It is based in
    Staten Island, New York, and Liberia.
        As a key conduit between Liberia and the Liberian diaspora
    community in the United States, this agency's mission is to
    increase access to better education opportunities, expand
    social development, and improve health care for the community.
        Dr. Curtis, as I said, was also the principal of Curtis
    High School in Staten Island, which has the largest
    concentration of Liberians outside of Western Africa.
        Rushdi Nackerdien is the International Foundation Electoral
    Systems regional director for Africa. A founding member of what
    was the Electoral Leadership Institute, he was focused on
    electoral reform, capacity development, strategic planning,
    project and program evaluation, and expert advice in elections
    and development of e-learning materials with a special focus on
    Africa.
        Additionally, he has guided the African Union in revising
    their election observation approach and has worked in numerous
    African countries such as Senegal, Ghana, and the Democratic
    Republic of Congo.
        Dr. Chris Fomunyoh is the current senior associate and
    regional director of the Central and West Africa at the
    National Democratic Institute.
        He has organized and advised international election
    observation missions and designed and supervised country-
    specific democratic support programs with civic organizations,
    political parties, and legislative bodies throughout Central
    and West Africa.
        He recently designed and helped launch the African
    Statesman Initiative, a program aimed at facilitating political
    transitions in Africa by encouraging former democratic heads of
    state.
        He is also an adjunct faculty--he is also an adjunct
    faculty member at the African Center for Strategic Studies and
    a former adjunct professor of African politics and government
    at Georgetown University.
        On behalf of this subcommittee, I welcome you all. And at
    this point I recognize Mr. Peterson for his opening statement.

        STATEMENT OF MR. DAVE PETERSON, SENIOR DIRECTOR, AFRICA
              PROGRAMS?, NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR DEMOCRACY

        Mr. Peterson. Thank you, Chairman Donovan and Ranking
    Member Bass. It is really a pleasure and an honor to be able to
    testify this afternoon.
        Liberia has come a long way in the 30 years since the
    National Endowment for Democracy began working there in the
    waning years of the Samuel Doe regime, through the civil war,
    the interim government, the rule of Charles Taylor, and now two
    terms of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and the Ebola crisis.
        Liberia's October 10 election should be competitive,
    peaceful, and democratic. But Liberia's democracy should not be
    taken for granted.
        Having observed both the 1997 elections that brought Taylor
    to power as well as the 2005 elections that ushered in Ellen
    Johnson Sirleaf, I can testify to the determination Liberians
    have demonstrated for democracy at the ballot box.
        According to Afrobarometer, 83 percent of Liberians support
    democratic elections. That is a very high level
    internationally.
        The reports from our Liberian partners in the field
    describe lively candidate debates, successful voter
    registration efforts, massive civic education campaigns. They
    are mobilizing youth, women, traditional leaders, security
    forces, among others, to inform them about the process and the
    candidates and to participate responsibly.
        They are using social media, phone banks, community town
    halls, radio, and even old-fashioned town criers to spread the
    word.
        They are monitoring the process, providing criticism and
    recommendations, and some are working directly to support the
    electoral commission.
        According to one of our partners, campaigning has been
    peaceful and mature, even in the most troubled areas. As I say,
    candidates and their campaign managers have been keen on the
    issues and things they can do to improve livelihoods and
    environments of their people as opposed to indulging in ethnic
    politics.
        Though we all know that democracy is more than elections
    and the challenges of governance in the interim can be
    daunting, predicting the future is dangerous, especially when
    it comes to the volatile politics of West Africa.
        But Liberia could prove to be a reliable democratic partner
    of the United States. Its democratic institutions and popular
    commitment to democracy could grow stronger and its governance
    could improve.
        How can this happen? Liberia is not the only country in
    West Africa holding democratic elections. Ghana's elections
    last year were a model of efficiency and transparency as well
    as being peaceful and democratic.
        Gambia's elections last year were also competitive and
    produced a surprising transition. In the last few years,
    Senegal, Benin, Cote d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Mali, and, of
    course, Nigeria have held elections of varying quality but all
    essentially free and democratic.
        Sierra Leone and Guinea will hold elections next year,
    which are also anticipated to be democratic. Thus, in this
    regional context, Liberia is fortunate to be surrounded by
    democratic-minded neighbors who are more likely to support
    Liberia's democratic trajectory than to divert it.
        The kinds of cross-border attacks that used to occur back
    and forth between Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Cote d'Ivoire have
    ended.
        The steady withdrawal of U.N. and ECOWAS troops is not a
    sign of fatigue or diminished support but of confidence--that
    Liberia's own security institutions are strong enough to
    maintain order and protect the country.
        All of these governments are friendly to the United States
    and as their democratic systems consolidate and mature, the
    entire West Africa region should come to be regarded as an
    important economic and political partner of the United States.
        Liberia is special, as Congressman Smith has already noted.
    Although its population is only about 4.3 million, it is the
    only country in Africa that claims a special kinship to the
    United States--America's stepchild, as some Liberians put it.
        Its history is closely intertwined with ours from the
    founding of the American Colonization Society in 1822,
    independence in 1847, the long dominance of the America
    Liberian elite, its service as an American base in World War II
    and the Cold War, to place names such as Monrovia, the Liberian
    flag, the uniquely American-accented Liberian English.
        Liberians' political upheavals have brought waves of
    Liberian immigrants, as you've already noted, to the United
    States and, obviously, you are very familiar with their
    energetic lobbying for the issues that they are concerned
    about.
        Most Liberians have long aspired for their nation to have a
    special relationship with the United States. Liberia's economic
    resources and commercial potential are also not to be
    dismissed, including rubber and palm oil, iron, tourism, and
    shipping.
        I have run out of time. Whoever is elected President of
    Liberia will be keenly aware of these relationships and will
    likely want to strengthen them and take advantage of them. But
    the United States also stands to benefit from a strong,
    prosperous, and democratic Liberia.
        In contrast to its destabilizing role in the region just 20
    years ago, Liberia is now serving as a model for democratic
    transition, female leadership, and national reconciliation. In
    the struggle against extremists and criminal networks in West
    Africa, Liberia could prove particularly helpful.
        Liberia's democratic institutions are in place and
    functioning but they need shoring up. The legislature, for
    example, is improving its performance, according to one of our
    partners that has been monitoring it for many years.
        But it has not always shown the independence and integrity
    that Liberians expect. Only one-third of Liberian voters
    believe that members of their House of Representatives reflect
    their views, according to the Afrobarometer, and one of the
    popular issues in the campaign has been to cut legislators'
    rather generous salaries and benefits.
        The legislative budget is almost equivalent to that of the
    entire education system in the country. Likewise, Liberia's
    judiciary remains weak.
        The Supreme Court's recent rulings of the eligibility of
    certain candidates has stirred controversy and questions about
    its independence.
        Having seen the critical role that the court played in the
    Kenyan elections, Liberians are skeptical that their own court
    would be able to show the same integrity.
        Liberia's local justice structure suffers from a shortage
    of magistrates and lack of resources, police and prisons. Some
    Liberians have criticized the special court that tried Charles
    Taylor because their own justice system has received so little
    support.
        I will leave the discussion about the Electoral Commission
    to my colleagues. I think they are better placed to comment on
    that. But it is an important institution.
        I should just say that Liberia's press remains independent
    and lively despite resource problems. The anti-defamation cases
    have tapered off and a new freedom of information act has also
    been an important advance.
        Civil society is very vibrant and often critical. It played
    a leading role in fighting Ebola and will continue to act as a
    watchdog as well as a partner with government when possible.
        The labor movement and the business sector have been
    gaining strength and have been partners with our own Solidarity
    Center and Center for International Private Enterprise. These
    nongovernmental institutions are fundamental for the success of
    Liberian democracy.
        Corruption, obviously, remains the weak point in Liberia's
    democracy, as for many African democracies. Nepotism, ethnic
    favoritism, shady contracts, vote buying, land deals, other
    forms of both grand and petty corruption can only undermine
    popular support for democracy and must be opposed.
        Although the candidates in the election have expressed
    their readiness to fight corruption as has President Johnson
    Sirleaf herself, Liberians have seen very little progress.
        Liberia must overcome many other challenges to consolidate
    its nascent democracy. The struggling economy, massive
    unemployment, dependence on the informal sector, ethnic
    conflict, religious conflict, land conflict, women's rights,
    environmental destruction--it is quite an agenda.
        But I remain optimistic that with political will, popular
    commitment, and some modest assistance from international
    partners, Liberia can consolidate its democracy and steadily
    improve its governance.
        Thank you. I look forward to your questions.
        [The prepared statement of Mr. Peterson follows:]
        [GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

                                  ----------

        Mr. Donovan. Thank you, Mr. Peterson.
        We are honored to be joined by Chairman Ed Royce, who is
    the chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, which this
    subcommittee is part of.
        The Chair now recognizes Dr. Curtis for her opening
    statement.

        STATEMENT OF MS. AURELIA CURTIS, FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE
        DIRECTOR, WEEKS EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIAL ADVOCACY PROJECT

        Ms. Curtis. Presiding chair, my Congressman Donovan,
    Ranking Member Bass, and members of the subcommittee, I thank
    you for the opportunity to provide testimony today about the
    role of the diaspora and Liberia's ongoing struggle for
    democracy.
        The military coup in 1980, followed by the horrific civil
    war in 1989, which lasted almost 15 years, claimed hundreds of
    thousands of lives and significantly destroyed much of the
    infrastructure of Liberia.
        A notable consequence of the war with the mass exodus of
    Liberians seeking refuge wherever doors were open, the United
    States of America opened its doors and the borough of Staten
    Island in New York City became home to the largest
    concentration of Liberians outside of West Africa.
        The Staten Island diaspora remains the center of culture
    and connections for Liberians across the United States.
    Optimistic that we will be an integral part of the rebuilding
    of Liberia, ensuring that it is indeed a land of liberty. The
    past 12 years of peaceful governance is a foundation that all
    Liberians must build upon.
        My name is Dr. Aurelia NdeKontee Louise Weeks Curtis and I
    serve as the executive director of the Weeks Educational and
    Social Advocacy Project, WESAP. I thank you, Congressman
    Donovan, for the gracious introduction.
        I have worked for many nonprofit causes, but WESAP, with
    offices in the United States and Liberia, now claims most of my
    time and attention. WESAP has connected amputee children in
    Liberia with resources in the U.S., offering them prosthetic
    limbs.
        When the children return to Liberia, WESAP ensures that
    they're enrolled in school, providing all tuition, fees, books,
    and uniforms.
        A local social worker is a liaison between WESAP students
    and families, supporting youth development and other family
    needs.
        WESAP has launched a campaign to put water wells near
    schools in Liberia that have no fresh water supply and is in
    partnership with two U.S.-based nonprofits to establish an all-
    girl boarding school in Liberia.
        With the support of the Staten Island community, we assist
    families, especially immigrants and refugees from population
    groups that are not commonly represented in our area.
        We provide multiethnic and culturally sensitive services
    that address their needs with respect and dignity. Recently,
    WESAP advocated for and assisted a family to return the mortal
    remains of their daughter to the United States for burial.
        Princess Yates, a U.S. citizen born to Liberian parents on
    Staten Island, went to Liberia on July 4th to celebrate her
    grandmother's 90th birthday.
        She was involved in a tragic automobile accident. According
    to published reports, the local hospital refused to give her
    needed medical assistance because money was not readily
    available to pay for treatment.
        Her mother cried. Princess sat in an abandoned wheelchair,
    begging for help, until she took her last breath.
        This incident highlights the critical need for timely
    access to good health care, especially in a country like
    Liberia with a high level of poverty whose infrastructure was
    decimated by the civil war.
        Following the forthcoming elections, all Liberians must
    play a role indispensable to ensuring geometric growth in
    access to health care and other urgent facets of sustainable
    development in Liberia.
        Dual citizenship--Liberians in the diaspora often wonder if
    they are in fact welcome to participate in the rebuilding of
    Liberia. Primary about stems from the lack of clarity regarding
    dual citizenship.
        The Supreme Court of Liberia recently heard a case brought
    by Alvin Jalloh, a United States citizen born in Liberia to
    Liberian parents, who fled Liberia as a direct result of the
    civil war.
        He emigrated to the United States and subsequently acquired
    U.S. citizenship in accordance with the naturalization laws of
    this country.
        Chapter 22 of the Alien National--Alien and Nationality Law
    of Liberia ``prohibits Liberian citizens from taking other
    nationalities or engaging in certain acts in foreign
    countries,'' including armed forces enlistments and
    participation in elections.
        Liberians in the diaspora are watching this case closely
    because the wrong decision will have dire implications for the
    talent pool that is ready to return and assist in nation
    building.
        A decision in this case has not been rendered. But wait.
    The Supreme Court may have already ruled in this matter when it
    failed to prevent several candidates in the forthcoming
    elections from contesting when evidence was presented to prove
    that said candidates had naturalized citizenship in other
    countries.
        I call on this committee to use its influence to assist the
    people that you represent, Liberians in the United States of
    America, to attain dual citizenship, an initial hurdle that can
    be an impediment to tapping into the valuable human resource
    pool that resides outside of Liberia, a country in great need.
        Liberians in the diaspora stand willing and ready to
    assist. But many are not prepared to abandon the country that
    gave them refuge in their time of need nor should they be
    forced to make such a decision.
        DACA and TPS--temporary protective status for Liberia,
    Guinea, and Sierra Leone was terminated effective May 21st,
    2017. Deferred action for childhood arrivals, DACA is being
    dismantled by the current administration.
        Many immigrants, Liberians included, are adversely affected
    by the decision to end legal status, especially children who
    have known no other home than the United States of America. You
    have heard the appeals and protests to reinstate TPS and DACA.
        I add my voice to the chorus of immigrants, highlighting
    the plight of thousands of law-abiding Liberians who have
    contributed to the economy of this country and call the U.S.A.
    home.
        Please find a path for legal residence that will keep
    families united and offer students the opportunity to continue
    their education in the schools in which they are currently
    enrolled.
        A house with two rooms--the final report of the Truth and
    Reconciliation Commission, TRC, of Liberia Diaspora Project
    documents the experience of human rights abuses and violations
    of international humanitarian law that force Liberians to leave
    the country.
        The Staten Island Liberian Community Association and Staten
    Island-based African Refuge supported the work of the advocates
    for human rights to document this dark time in Liberian
    history.
        Based on analyses of more than 1,600 statements,
    interviews, and witness testimonies, the TRC report tells the
    stories of trauma experienced by members of the diaspora during
    the flight through Liberia and across international borders and
    in resettlement in the United States and United Kingdom.
        My father was among those who walked for days, sometimes
    sleeping under open skies, to escape warring factions. His home
    was taken over by rebels.
        Even after he found his way out of Liberia and into the
    United States, he continued to suffer the recollection of
    atrocities. The awful ramifications of Alzheimer's disease did
    not curb his desire to return to his home that he was forced to
    leave by rebel combatants.
        While many in the diaspora will attribute the beginning of
    Liberia's civil crises to the 1979 riots, I believe that there
    were many telling signs before April 1979.
        Poverty, political dominance, corruption, tribalism, and
    low literacy were significant contributors. Those political
    landmines did not begin in 1979. The same themes were present
    in interviews, the witness testimonies from members of the
    diaspora.
        The themes persist today and reared their ugly heads when I
    spoke informally to members of the community as I prepared for
    this testimony.
        The civil war has left entrenched resentments and divisions
    along tribal and political lines--evidenced in the diaspora,
    ever present in current campaign rhetoric. There is no quick
    solution to problems resulting from more than 100 years of
    dysfunction in government and social practices.
        The TRC report was a necessary start. Ignoring the TRC
    report adds fuel to the fire and buffers the rhetoric of many
    who believe there is no room at the table for them. So for many
    it is time to turn the table upside down.
        We cannot and must not allow stagnation to steer us
    backwards. Liberians on Staten Island and across the diaspora
    recognize the need for reconciliation and healing the wounds of
    the Liberian nation.
        When President Johnson Sirleaf inaugurated the TRC she
    said, ``Our country cannot continue to evade justice and the
    protection of human rights throughout our land, especially the
    kind that restores our historical place among civilized
    nations. Our Government will ensure that those culpable of the
    commission of crimes against humanity will face up to the their
    crimes no matter when, where, or how.''
        The current government has not dealt decisively with the
    TRC report. So the next government elected in October or
    November 2017 must chart a transparent course of action.
        The TRC report will not fade away into oblivion. No one
    disputes the findings, even though two commissioners did not
    sign the report because of undocumented dissenting views. The
    Liberian Government must determine if it will implement all or
    some of the recommendations.
        A new commission must be inaugurated to provide a timetable
    for implementation. The new TRC must have the benefit of using
    the investigative body that prepared the report as a resource.
        The mandate to develop a plausible plan for dealing with
    the recommendation made almost 8 years ago must be front and
    center in the first 100 days of the next government. Rethinking
    governance with hearts in mind, Liberians in the diaspora agree
    that rebuilding the physical and human capital must be top
    priorities for the next government.
        The close links between infrastructure development,
    education, agriculture, and health care are indisputable. There
    is no substitute for establishing desired goals and planning
    for how one will achieve those goals.
        Simplistic as it may sound, planning works. We call on the
    next government to share the 1-year, 3-year, 5-year, and 10-
    year plans for four key areas--infrastructure development,
    education, agriculture, and health care.
        Integrated in the plan must be measures on accountability
    and quality control. If it is not working, the government must
    be prepared to revise the plan to ensure that the established
    goals are achieved.
        The socioeconomic schisms in Liberia are more pronounced
    than they were 12 years ago. How do we know that? Follow the
    money. Money transfer companies are sending large sums of money
    from the diaspora to support families in Liberia. But transfers
    are also going in the other direction, from Liberia to banking
    institutions overseas.
        Please explain to me how it is possible for anyone employed
    by the world's third poorest nation to legally amass enough
    wealth to build homes locally, buy homes overseas, and still
    have change to spare.
        I call on this committee to ensure that pressure is brought
    to bear on the Government of Liberia to institute systems that
    prevent and prosecute corruption all levels.
        In my other life, I would tell exam proctors your job is to
    prevent cheating, not to catch cheaters. Similarly so, the
    Government of Liberia must make it difficult for corruption to
    persist, and when corruption is uncovered, effective
    prosecution must send a strong message that a government for,
    of, and by the people will not stand by idly while the people
    are disenfranchised.
        [The prepared statement of Ms. Curtis follows:]
        [GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

                                  ----------

        Mr. Donovan. Thank you, Dr. Curtis.
        We are going to enter the rest of your testimony into the
    official record and take up some of those issues during the
    question and answer period.
        Ms. Curtis. I apologize if I----
        Mr. Donovan. No, that is okay. You are very passionate
    about this. Thank you, Dr. Curtis.
        We are going to take a pause for a moment. Chairman Royce
    has another hearing that he has to attend so the Chair
    recognizes Chairman Royce.
        Chairman Royce. Well, thank you, Mr. Chairman, very much.
        We have got a very long history of ties to Liberia, going
    back to July 26th of 1847. We know it is July 26th because that
    is Greg Simpkins's birthday here and he's the staff director
    and he and I have worked on Liberian issues since the '90s.
        And so there have been some disappointments. We were trying
    to get information into Liberia so that in her first race,
    Ellen Johnson Sirleaf could compete with Charles Taylor in the
    election.
        But he controlled all of the media and as a consequence, of
    course, he won. We were very disappointed, as you can imagine,
    afterwards to see what happened in Liberia with the mutilations
    and the murder rate and everything that transpired not only
    there but in neighboring Sierra Leone.
        For a while, one of the young men who worked in my office
    was a survivor. He lost both of his parents. He was from Sierra
    Leone.
        But he lost both of his parents to an attack by the
    Revolutionary United Front, and that group, of course, had been
    supported again by Charles Taylor. So it was very bad time for
    West Africa.
        When I chaired the Africa Subcommittee, we worked very
    diligently across party lines to send a clear unified message
    and that Charles Taylor needed to be brought to the bar of
    justice, and against the odds, he was.
        We have a respite here and in the meantime, years later, we
    have seen some impressive growth in Liberia. I have been out to
    Liberia and seen a number of the steps that are being taken and
    I got to tell you, the U.S. has invested there to rebuild and
    support democratic institutions, and as a nation confronted
    with immense political and economic and, of course, security
    and development challenges, Liberia has persevered.
        And I would just take for a moment the time to say that, in
    my view, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has been leading these
    efforts and I commend her strong leadership through two terms.
        But she is stepping down from office, and I think this is
    admirable because she is setting an example for other African
    leaders now in terms of stepping down and giving an opportunity
    for the next person to run for President in an open election.
        I think those elections provide an opportunity to
    consolidate these democratic gains. It is a peaceful transfer
    of power. If done successfully, Liberia will be a model to
    fledgling democracies across Africa.
        And on that, I want to thank the members of this committee
    because I think the members here--your continued interest in
    this, your efforts to help this along--will have very, very
    consequential impacts.
        I see Al White's in the audience. He is the former chief
    investigator of the Sierra Leone special court.
        And again, for those of you who have kept this interest,
    you know, for a generation, it is important. A steady hand--a
    steady hand of assistance here is important.
        The fact that the Liberian diaspora community--the American
    Liberian community--is so involved is a huge asset to the
    people of Liberia.
        So as we look ahead to future engagement, we all recognize
    one thing and that is that deep reforms are needed to further
    address corruption.
        In Liberia, just like the rest of the world, this is
    something that has to be confronted and a more conducive
    environment for trade and for business investment is really
    needed.
        So we here in the United States have got to remain a
    willing partner to support this transition of power where the
    will of the people is respected and upheld and beyond so that
    our country, the ancestral home of many Americans, our country
    and Liberia, can together continue to push for this hopeful
    track.
        We have a special responsibility here as Americans, and for
    the Liberian-American community here, thank you again for your
    engagement. Let us try to be clear-eyed. Let us make certain
    that there is accountability.
        Let us make certain we are on the ground in order to check
    in terms of the elections. I am going to meet--I am meeting
    here momentarily with the head of IRI and DNI.
        We have got to make sure, you know, that all these steps
    are taken and that we want to continue to help with reforms and
    we insist on the inclusion of the Liberian American community.
        Thank you very much for the time here, Chairman.
        Mr. Donovan. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        We will resume with opening statements. The Chair now
    recognizes Mr. Nackerdien for his opening statement.

       STATEMENT OF MR. RUSHDI NACKERDIEN, REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR
         AFRICA, INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR ELECTORAL SYSTEMS

        Mr. Nackerdien. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member Bass, and distinguished
    members of the subcommittee, on behalf of the International
    Foundation for Electoral Systems, I deeply appreciate this
    opportunity to discuss the evolution of Liberia's democracy.
        With generous backing from USAID and international
    partners, IFES supports credible electoral processes globally.
        In many parts of the world including Liberia, IFES works
    with its partners in the Consortium for Elections and Political
    Process. Strengthening the International Republican Institute
    and the National Democratic Institute.
        Mr. Chairman, credible elections strengthen peace and
    democracy. This is no truer than in Liberia.
        Twelve years ago with the 2005 elections, Liberia was
    emerging from a civil war, a war that left hundreds of
    thousands dead, disabled, or displaced, a war wracked with the
    use of child soldiers and an epidemic of violence against
    women.
        The 2005 election shattered a double glass ceiling, leading
    to the first elected female head of state in Africa and the
    first black woman head of state, Her Excellency, Ellen Johnson
    Sirleaf.
        On October 10th, 2017, Liberians will recommit to
    democracy, as Johnson Sirleaf is ineligible to run for a third
    term and should be congratulated for honouring her country's
    constitutional term limits.
        This election will mark the first democratic transfer of
    political power in Liberian history.
        IFES has implemented election programs in Liberia since
    2004. Over time, our work has become more focused and nuanced.
        In 2005, Liberia's National Election Commission, known as
    the NEC, relied heavily on the U.N. peacekeeping mission and
    IFES.
        In 2011, it began standing independently. In 2014, in the
    midst of the Ebola crisis, the NEC ably conducted special
    senatorial elections.
        This is progress and it relied on IFES support in several
    key areas such as voter registration, results management,
    campaign finance, and electoral dispute resolution.
        Mr. Chairman, our efforts are yielding results. A recent
    survey found that 91 percent of Liberians feel free to choose
    whom to vote for while 90 percent feel free to join any
    political organization.
        The NEC increased its voters register from 2014 to 2017 by
    15 percent to 2 million registered voters. With IFES support,
    the NEC registered 67 percent of young voters.
        A 2017 USAID-funded study found that the majority of
    Liberians interviewed trust the NEC as an impartial and
    transparent body.
        In sum, without U.S. support, the commission would be
    weaker, less prepared for the elections, less voters would be
    registered, and less would know about the process, and the
    October elections in Liberia would be more expensive.
        For instance, the Government of Liberia assessed the
    viability of biometric voter registration for the upcoming
    elections. IFES advised against its implementation prior to the
    coming elections, citing cost and logistical reasons.
        The government agreed with our assessment and did not
    attempt a premature or rushed implementation of new untested
    technology.
        This is a clear example of how mutual trust both over time
    and adherence to local context leads to cost effective and
    practical decisions that can stave off electoral mishaps.
        Despite this progress, the NEC faces several challenges.
    Liberia's road network, already unreliable, will lengthen the
    delivery and retrieval of electoral materials, especially
    during the height of rainy season.
        The core of election officials still depend on continued
    international support for both planning and implementation. A
    run-off election is a highly likely scenario.
        The NEC will have 2 weeks after the announcement of the
    first round results for administering a runoff. This will
    strain the systems. These challenges highlight the continued
    need for assistance, which brings me, Mr. Chairman, to my
    recommendations for the U.S. Congress.
        Firstly, I thank the U.S. Congress for its robust
    bipartisan funding of democracy assistance and also its
    continued support.
        Electoral assistance as evidenced in Liberia with Liberia's
    success should start early and continue through the post-
    election period to allow for flexible and responsive
    programming.
        Multi-year multi-election programs are the most impactful.
    In Liberia, we recommend continued support to a possible
    constitutional referendum to the eventual introduction of
    biometric voter identification and registration and to the
    strengthening of judicial capacities.
        Mr. Chairman, thank you again for this opportunity to
    testify. The October 2017 elections will be landmark
    achievement for Liberians and we congratulate them in advance.
        I am happy to answer any questions you might have.
        [The prepared statement of Mr. Nackerdien follows:]
        [GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

                                  ----------

        Mr. Donovan. Thank you very much.
        The Chair now recognizes Dr. Fomunyoh.

    STATEMENT OF CHRISTOPHER FOMUNYOH, PH.D., SENIOR ASSOCIATE AND
        REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR CENTRAL AND WEST AFRICA, NATIONAL
                          DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTE

        Mr. Fomunyoh. Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member Bass,
    distinguished members of the subcommittee, on behalf of the
    National Democratic Institute, NDI, I appreciate the
    opportunity to discuss prospects for advancing democracy and
    good governance in Liberia following next month's elections.
        I focus on the elections because how they are conducted
    will have significant impact on the legitimacy of the ensuing
    government and legislature and the performance of governance
    institutions.
        On October 10th, Liberians will go to the polls to elect a
    President, Vice President, and 73 Members of the House of
    Representatives.
        There are 20 Presidential and Vice Presidential tickets and
    approximately 1,000 candidates for seats in the House of
    Representatives.
        Since 2003, NDI has, with funding from the U.S. Agency for
    International Development and the Swedish Government, worked to
    strengthen the development of democratic institutions and
    practices in Liberia.
        To support Liberian efforts to conduct credible polls in
    2017, NDI deployed two pre-election assessment missions to
    Monrovia in February and September, currently has long-term
    observers and analysts in country, and will deploy an
    international election observation mission for the October
    polls.
        The institute is also providing technical assistance to a
    coalition of civil society organizations, the elections
    coordinating committee. They have plans to deploy thousands of
    citizen observers to monitor the polls across all 15 counties
    of the country.
        Furthermore, NDI is training party poll watchers from all
    political parties on how to enhance transparency by monitoring
    all aspects of voting on behalf of their candidates and
    collecting evidence from polling stations to use in the
    electoral disputes resolution process should the outcome of the
    polls be contested.
        Liberia has enjoyed a continuous period of 14 years of
    peace since the end of armed conflict in 2003 and citizens
    aspire to building a resilient democracy that delivers for its
    people.
        The upcoming elections will mark an historic milestone for
    the country as they present an opportunity for the first
    peaceful transfer of power from one elected President to
    another since 1944.
        According to recent focus groups undertaken by NDI,
    Liberians are enthusiastic about the elections and have faith
    in their ability to determine the outcome.
        They home that candidates and political parties present
    policy proposals during the ongoing campaign so citizens can
    make informed choices.
        The recent focus group research also underscored the fact
    that Liberians embrace democracy not only as a means to end
    conflict but also as the governance model that fosters
    accountability so governing institutions can deliver on
    citizens' expectations.
        Should the elected leaders be unable to satisfy these
    expectations, citizens may lose faith in democracy and further
    disengage from the political process, hence reinforcing apathy
    and stalling the country's democratic progress.
        With the election campaign underway, Liberians repeatedly
    stated to NDI observers that they, and I quote, ``do not want
    their communities to revert to the armed conflicts of decades
    past.''
        The future of democracy in Liberia will hinge in the short
    term on the perceived success of failure of the October polls
    and in the long term on the ability of future leaders to
    consolidate the games that have been made in the last decade in
    improving governance and meeting citizens' demands.
        If voters have confidence that the electoral process is
    fair and credible and that their collective will is reflected
    in the outcome, that will go a long way in laying the
    foundation for greater stability, peace, and sustainable
    development.
        In my full written statement, I discuss in more detail the
    electoral process and future prospects in the post-election
    period with regards to specific entities and issues, notably,
    the executive and legislative branches of government, security
    sector performance, civil society, decentralization, and the
    rule of law.
        I would like to submit that full statement as well as the
    September 9th statement issued by NDI's pre-election assistant
    mission for the record.
        I thank you for your time and look forward to your
    questions.
        [The prepared statement of Mr. Fomunyoh follows:]
        [GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

                                  ----------

        Mr. Donovan. I thank you very much, all of you, for your
    opening statements. I will take a few moments to ask some
    questions and then Ranking Member Bass will ask her questions.
        Mr. Peterson, there is an international polling
    organization--it may have been Afrobarometer--that reported
    that Liberians have more faith in the National Election
    Commission and the selection than they have in the past.
        Is there anything to attribute that confidence in? Has
    anything changed that confidence in our own election process?
        Mr. Peterson. Well, I think the commission has had some
    time to improve its operations. IFES, of course, has been
    working very closely with them for some years now.
        The Afrobarometer poll, as you note, a couple years ago was
    finding that only about a third of Liberians had, you know,
    significant trust in the electoral commission.
        But from what our partners are telling us now, you know,
    people are pretty confident that the commission can do its job.
    But I think there has been a lot that has been invested in the
    commission. It has got, you know, decent independent leadership
    and that makes a big difference.
        Mr. Donovan. Thank you.
        Dr. Curtis, that beautiful young lady from Staten Island
    who went back home--back to Liberia, suffered from that great
    loss, the accident in which she was denied medical care, is
    that the norm really?
        Is that--is that what happens to people in Liberia who
    can't pay for medical care and is there anything that our
    country is doing about that?
        Ms. Curtis. I think there is a lot that United States of
    America is doing about it. Knights of America has been a good
    friend to Liberia.
        The development of Liberia over the last 12 years would not
    have been possible without the friendship and the support of
    the Knights of America, the government, the institutions here,
    the USAID.
        But we have a broken system. We have a broken health care
    system that requires quite a bit. We have a broken education
    system, and the--as I said in my statement, while the last 12
    years of governance have been a great foundation that we can
    build on, there is still much to be done.
        Infrastructure development, education, health care reform,
    and paying attention to agriculture, which is what most
    Liberians know how to do, are going to be key challenges for
    the next government.
        There is so much at stake in this next election, and as a
    Liberian in diaspora I am grateful that Liberia has the United
    States as a partner in this and as a guide to help with
    establishing accountability and--for in areas that we are not
    historically good at.
        Mr. Donovan. Your advocacy for dual citizenship--do the
    Liberians back in Liberia, would they welcome American
    Liberians going there and participating in the election process
    or would they feel that there is an interference from outside
    sources if we--if more and more people were involved with dual
    citizenship?
        Ms. Curtis. I have heard arguments on both sides. But I
    tell you, Congressman, that in this election there is evidence
    that there are at least two candidates that have said they have
    citizenship in other countries.
        So will Liberians welcome them? We will see how the--how
    the votes are cast. Neither of the--actually, one of them is a
    leading candidate.
        So will Liberians welcome them? Let us see how the votes
    are cast. But I think it is a well-known fact in Liberia that
    several members of the Liberian Government and at least two
    candidates in the current elections have citizenship in other
    countries.
        But the Alien Law, Chapter 22, says that doesn't exist and
    it is illegal.
        Mr. Donovan. Mr. Nackerdien, was just wondering if you
    could tell us about how--again, talking about confidence, I
    think in your testimony it is about 54 percent of Liberian
    voters believe that the national elections back in 2011 were
    free and complete and fair, and I think in 2014, 3 years later,
    that was up to 78 percent.
        What inspires this confidence? Mr. Peterson was telling me
    about the commission. What inspires this confidence that the
    Liberians have in the election process in such a short period
    of time that increased so dramatically?
        Mr. Nackerdien. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        I think the one thing that one could very specifically
    point to is running an election during a crisis. The 2014
    elections happened during the Ebola crisis and the commission
    managed to very ably navigate a very complex time to manage
    that election and that is a direct testimony to how ordinary
    citizens respond to credible elections.
        A process happening in the crisis I believe maneuvered--I
    think that could most clearly demonstrate where that change has
    come from.
        Mr. Donovan. And my last question before I turn it over to
    the ranking member, Mr. Fomunyoh, there are many concerns about
    voter registration, timeliness.
        We heard in the first panel about the rainy season now and
    the timeliness of the elections, and Dr. Curtis had noted that
    perhaps even the qualification of some of the candidates who
    hold American citizenship or citizenship from other countries
    may be a factor in when people are voting.
        Do you anticipate that some of these issues are going to
    have a serious impact on the elections next month and what is
    your opinion on that?
        Mr. Fomunyoh. Having--Mr. Chairman, having just returned
    from Liberia as part of the pre-election assessment mission,
    the NDI delegation raised these issues with the Election
    Commission, with the political leaders as well as with
    representatives of Liberia and civil society organizations.
        There was a sense that the registration period did allow
    for Liberians of voting age--eligible voters to register. There
    was a voter verification period during which the initial
    registry was made available so that citizens could verify that
    their names were properly recorded on the voter rolls and now
    the Election Commission is in the process of finalizing the
    voter registry.
        The commission has promised to make that final voter
    registry available to political parties so that they will be
    able to verify in time.
        I think we were told by September 15 that that final list
    will be available to political parties so they can begin the
    process of verifying to make sure that all of their supporters
    that are of voting age and that did participate in the voter
    registration process will be on the voter rolls.
        Of course, with every election you cannot anticipate in
    advance the issues that will come up. But we will be looking
    very keenly to see if any Liberians that were of voting age and
    that were properly registered didn't find their names on the
    voter rolls or were disenfranchised because of any shortcomings
    on the part of the Election Commission or on the part of the
    poll workers.
        Mr. Donovan. Thank you very much.
        I yield to the ranking member, Ms. Bass.
        Ms. Bass. Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
        I wanted to say a few things before asking questions and I
    wanted to begin with Mr. Peterson.
        You cited in your comments--you ran through a number of
    countries that have had peaceful transfers of power, and I
    think it is important to note that because we often focus on
    those countries that don't have a peaceful transition.
        And I think after the next year when all is said and done
    over all of the elections that have taken place over the
    continent, the vast majority are going to be a peaceful
    transfer of power and I think we need to keep that in mind.
        I always think it is important in the United States that we
    begin to look at the continent of Africa differently and as
    opposed to a land of problems but a land of opportunities.
        And I also want to mention in terms of Liberia because we
    keep making references to the connections between the United
    States and Liberia and I, first of all, feel that connection
    personally, considering that when the country of Liberia was
    established it was in conjunction with African American--
    enslaved African Americans and for all I know, some of my
    ancestors could have been on those boats going back to Liberia.
        But since the average African American has no idea where
    their families come from or what happened to their families, to
    me there is a personal connection.
        And I think as our country begins to reconcile with our
    history, we need to acknowledge that the Americans that went
    over to Liberia were enslaved African Americans.
        So I wanted to first ask Dr. Curtis, because you mentioned
    DACA and you mentioned TPS, and I was wondering what is
    happening with the diaspora.
        I do have to extend to you as well as to our presiding
    chairperson the opportunity to come next Friday to the
    Congressional Black Caucus Foundation African Brain Trust where
    Johnson Sirleaf will be there.
        And we will make sure that you have that information
    because perhaps folks from Staten Island--it is not that far--
    might want to come and attend the event and see their President
    make some comments for the last time in the United States
    before she leaves office, or one of the last times anyway. I am
    sure she will be attending other events and I know there is one
    that takes place a few days later.
        But I wanted to know if you could talk about what is going
    on amongst the diaspora community regarding DACA as well as
    TPS, which did expire. So what does that mean? Microphone.
        Ms. Curtis. I am sorry. I will address DACA first. The
    dismantling of that protection for children is unfortunate, and
    as an educator who serviced a large immigrant community on
    Staten Island, I understand the fear that now exists with
    families because it took some convincing for us in the Liberian
    community and the education community to convince families that
    it is okay--you should go ahead----
        Ms. Bass. Right.
        Ms. Curtis [continuing]. And apply for DACA.
        Ms. Bass. Right.
        Ms. Curtis. Now, these families have outed themselves----
        Ms. Bass. Right.
        Ms. Curtis [continuing]. And put themselves at extreme risk
    at a time when that protection has been snatched away.
        In the case of TPS, the United States of America has opened
    its doors, as I said, to Liberians in a time of great need. And
    even as Liberia has made great strides in reestablishing a
    democracy, there are many reasons why families need to continue
    to live here in the United States and TPS offered them that
    legal status. Having it terminated on May 21st again put many
    families into hiding again.
        Ms. Bass. Okay. What does that mean? Because since it
    expired, are they subject to deportation? Can ICE pass by,
    since they are also outed as well?
        I mean, is there a list that ICE could essentially go pick
    everybody up whose TPS has expired?
        Ms. Curtis. I believe ICE has access to all of the
    information for people who file for TPS, and if they decided
    that they wanted to do a roundup that they could. I hope they
    don't.
        But people who applied for TPS believed in a system that
    was providing them legal status and that system now has
    terminated that legal status. And so all of their--and these
    were all law-abiding citizens.
        Criminals don't go and register with the government. These
    were all--unless they are forced to--but these were all law-
    abiding citizens who were working in this country and now don't
    have that.
        And I am not sure that the--that the systems in Liberia are
    prepared to absorb any mass migration back to Liberia.
        Ms. Bass. Do you know what the numbers are?
        Ms. Curtis. I don't have the numbers off the top of my
    head. But I will--I will research them and let Congress----
        Ms. Bass. Between DACA and TPS I think it would be
    important to know what the numbers are.
        Ms. Curtis. DACA, yes Congressman Donovan's office.
        Ms. Bass. Thank you, and you should know that we are
    working on it. So I am hopeful that we will come to a
    resolution around DACA and I am hopeful that we will come to a
    resolution around TPS.
        My fear, though, is that how long that is going to take us.
    Sometimes it takes us a long time to act. But we can act
    quickly. We can, and I am hopeful that we will.
        Let me--I am sorry?
        Ms. Curtis. I will be reporting for you in that regard.
        Ms. Bass. Yes. Absolutely.
        But I wanted to talk now about or ask some questions of our
    final--our next two panellists about the election and just a
    couple of points.
        One, I wanted to know, is the election just 1 day? As I
    mentioned, I participated as an observer in the election in
    Kenya, and it was 1 day but it was a national holiday so
    everybody had the day off and the polls were open from 6:00 to
    5:00 in the evening. And then in Kenya there was the full
    observer--observation mission.
        So, you know, there was NDI. There was the AU, the EU, the
    Carter Center, ECOWAS, and I am wondering if it will be a full-
    blown observation mission as it was in Kenya. For either of
    you.
        Mr. Nackerdien. Thank you, ma'am.
        Yes, elections will be 1 day. Polls will be open on the
    10th of October and I think people will be very interested to
    see how quickly the election result actually comes back.
        As far as we understand, and my colleague from NDI will
    talk more about that, there are full-blown delegations from all
    the major observer missions.
        This is the--one of the top five elections that will be
    watched on the African continent--following Kenya, Rwanda, and
    there are already groups from the Carter Center--long-term
    observer groups.
        NDI has been there and the European Union has also been on
    the ground working with domestic observer groups as well.
        Ms. Bass. You know, and perhaps before you answer, you
    know, Dr. Curtis raised the issue that one of the leading
    candidates--his citizenship is questionable.
        And I just wonder, especially given what happened in Kenya,
    which was shocking to me, you know, with the Supreme Court, and
    I am just wondering if this issue is a part of the campaign--
    when you were there.
        Mr. Fomunyoh. When I was there, we--our delegation met with
    all of the top candidates and the issue was not raised directly
    with our delegation.
        But we also were informed that in recent months the
    Election Commission as well as the Supreme Court has made some
    rulings that have been diversely interpreted by different
    segments of the Liberian population and we make reference to
    that issue in the delegation statement.
        If I could also answer on the delegations, that NDI will be
    fielding a full-blown delegation. We regret very much that you
    will not be able to----
        Ms. Bass. So do I.
        Mr. Fomunyoh [continuing]. Provide the leadership that you
    provided on the Kenya delegation.
        Ms. Bass. Thank you.
        Mr. Fomunyoh. But we are going to take a second chance with
    your schedule for November because----
        Ms. Bass. Oh.
        Mr. Fomunyoh [continuing]. Of the very strong likelihood
    that there will a run-off election, given that there are 20
    Presidential candidates and there is an estimation that none of
    the candidates would be able to obtain 50 percent plus one vote
    in the--in the first round.
        Ms. Bass. Do they have the dates of the final or----
        Mr. Fomunyoh. They don't have the date yet but it is likely
    going to be at some point early November.
        Ms. Bass. Okay.
        Mr. Fomunyoh. We will check with your staff, certainly.
        Ms. Bass. Please.
        Mr. Fomunyoh. But we know that the Carter Center is going
    to field an international delegation. The European Union will
    send an international delegation as well as the African Union
    and the ECOWAS, which is the subregional entity for West
    African states.
        Could I just add one last comment----
        Ms. Bass. Sure.
        Mr. Fomunyoh [continuing]. With regards to your
    observation, Congresswoman Bass, on what has happened with
    political leadership in Africa in the past few years and to
    underscore the fact that when you look at West Africa, which is
    ECOWAS, that of the 15 countries that currently make up West
    Africa, 14 of them have had a renewal of political leadership
    through the ballot box in elections that have been accepted by
    the citizens of those countries as well as the international
    community as credible and free and fair.
        And in those 14 countries, 14 of the 15 heads of states are
    serving their second term at the highest and none of them has
    exceeded the constitutional mandate that is required in most of
    those countries.
        So when you look at the continent, West Africa has really
    made tremendous progress with regards to the ability of renewed
    political leadership through meaningful and credible elections.
        Ms. Bass. Wonderful. Thank you very much.
        And I don't know, Mr. Peterson, if you would like to have
    any concluding comments.
        Mr. Peterson. Well, I will just echo Chris' comments about
    West Africa. I think it really has become a bastion of
    democracy. That is not to underestimate the serious problems
    that they have--you know, corruption, the insecurity.
        But I think that we in the United States would do well to
    pay a lot more attention to it. Democracy in many other parts
    of the world is under a lot of pressure. But I think we can be
    inspired by what is going on in West Africa.
        Ms. Bass. But we need to pay attention to it, huh? Is that
    what you just said?
        Thank you.
        Mr. Donovan. Well, I thank all of the panellists for their
    insight, their experience, and sharing their thoughts with us
    and I thank my friend from California, Ms. Bass, for her
    participation, and Chairman Royce and Chairman Smith.
        Without objection, all witnesses' full statements will be
    entered into the record of this hearing, and this hearing is
    now adjourned.
        [Whereupon, at 4:01 p.m., the committee was adjourned.]

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