This event summary, compiled by Kelly Hawkes for U.S. Africa Command (U.S. AFRICOM) Public Affairs, is intended to help describe policy discussions that may affect security policy in Africa. These informal observations and notes are intended to help the reader understand the tone of the event and content of the discussion. They do not reflect the official views of U.S. Africa Command, nor do they provide an official public record of the event. At a Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars event, April 5, 2011, Assistant Secretary of African Affairs Johnnie Carson stressed the importance of the election in Africa's most populace and second largest economy, Nigeria, which has been largely eclipsed by recent events in Libya and Japan. "What happens in Nigeria has consequences not only for Africa, but for the United States and the entire global community," stated Carson. Elections were slated to take place on Saturday, April 2, but the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of Nigeria intervened a few short hours into polling to postpone the first round of voting due to logistical problems, including failure to deliver voting materials. Nigeria has been riddled with election fraud and political corruption over the past two decades, with the last credible election occurring in 1993. The most recent setback to democracy occurred in the 2007 elections that were "deeply flawed and in no way reflected the ability and capacity of the Nigerian people to organize and run successful elections." Due to political manipulation, the fraudulent activities in this election ranged from rigging and theft of ballot boxes to voter intimidation. Furthermore, the widespread election violence in 2007 sparked grave concern across the international community. Carson stated, "any election violence is unacceptable and it casts a dark shadow over the entire electoral process. Assassination of candidates, bombings, riots, stoning of motor cages, and other forms of political hooliganism are to be condemned. The spoilers must not be allowed to prevail." However, the United States remains confident in the INEC's ability to hold credible and transparent elections in 2011. Carson was particularly pleased in the appointment of Professor Attahiru Jega as Chairman of the INEC and believes Jega will bring much needed "integrity and competence" to the election process. The United States fully supports Professor Jega's efforts to restore legitimacy and combat fraud in Nigerian elections. On another note, Carson expressed concerns over the current situation in Côte d'Ivoire. The United States supports actions by the international community to unseat incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo and relinquish authority to the newly elected president, Alassane Ouattara. "Gbagbo's attempt to cling to power regardless of the high cost to many Ivoirian citizens, regional stability, and Africa's representation is a direct insult to the many millions of Africans who have worked so hard in recent years to promote economic development, democratic reform and political stability," asserted Carson. Additionally, Carson noted that violence by the pro-Gbagbo forces will be held accountable for war crimes and other atrocities. Additional topics discussed included: • Recent achievements in diplomacy: referendum in Sudan; recognition of Guinea's first democratic government; return to democratic rule in Niger; and, seventeen noteworthy elections across Africa • Sudan, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are of top priority to the Bureau of African Affairs, Department of State • As head of the Bureau of African Affairs, Assistant Secretary Carson remains committed to providing assistance to the economies of Sub-Saharan African through the African Growth an Opportunity Act (AGOA) Video of the event can be found at: www.youtube.com/user/statevideo#p/u/0/M7FwHEK2t68