28 Jan JWI Representing Alassane Ouattara, President of Ivory Coast
Jefferson Waterman International is providing political representation and media support to President Alassane Ouattara, the internationally recognized winner of Ivory Coast’s November 2010 presidential elections. JWI’s services, provided on a pro bono basis, are geared to reinforcing international pressure on defeated former President Laurent Gbagbo to step down.
Jefferson Waterman International, headquartered in Washington, D.C., is representing the interests of President Alassane Ouattara, the internationally recognized winner of Ivory Coast’s November 2010 presidential elections. JWI is providing President Ouattara with U.S. and international political representation as well as media support on a pro bono basis. The goal of JWI efforts is to sustain and intensify global pressures on the defeated former President Laurent Gbagbo to accept the election’s outcome and leave office.
“With several elections scheduled to take place in the coming months across Africa, it would be disastrous for the region if the precedent being set by Mr. Gbagbo is allowed to stand,” said Charles Waterman, JWI’s CEO. “The U.S., the UN, the EU, and concerned countries in Africa and around the world understand the importance of taking action now to ensure that democracy prevails in the Ivory Coast.”
Authorized by President Ouattara to represent his new government’s interests shortly after the election, JWI has reached out to U.S. and international government leaders, the media, academics, and the global public, including Ivorians living in their country and elsewhere. In January, JWI facilitated a Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) audioconference with President Ouattara, who participated from his current location in the Golf Hotel, where he is protected by a contingent of UN peacekeepers. The Washington, D.C., event was attended by approximately 140 policymakers and thought leaders, with over 200 viewers tuning-in live online. A video of the event, “A Discussion with the President-Elect of Côte d’Ivoire,” remains posted on the CSIS website for viewing and downloading.
In December, JWI established the website www.ivorycoastdemocracy.com on President Ouattara’s behalf, as well as social media pages on Facebook (friend Ivory Coast Democracy) and Twitter (follow @IvoryCoastDemoc). In less than a month, traffic on the website soared, at last count reaching visitors from 67 countries, including residents of the Ivory Coast.
JWI is well positioned to assist President Ouattara. For more than 15 years, the firm has represented the interests of governments, political groups, and major international corporations, and has become known for its particular effectiveness in matters related to developing nations and politically sensitive environments. The firm has especially extensive experience in matters concerning West Africa. Its Africa Advisory Board, which includes two former U.S. ambassadors to African nations as well as senior retired U.S. military officials, is providing JWI with strategic advice on representation of President Ouattara. Additionally, JWI is working in tandem with Covington & Burling LLP, which is providing President Ouattara with legal support.
JWI’s Chief Operating Officer, Sam Wyman, commented, “U.S., UN, and regional economic sanctions are steadily increasing pressure on Laurent Gbagbo to step down. Observers believe these and other measures will in fact be successful, and result in a pivotal victory for peaceful democratic elections in the Ivory Coast and across the region.”
About Jefferson Waterman International
The business of international politics. The politics of international business.
Jefferson Waterman International is a premier Washington, D.C.-based political and business consulting firm with an exclusively and distinctly international practice. JWI’s effectiveness stems from the high-level experience and global contacts of its people: senior internationalists from the U.S. intelligence community, as well as from business, security, government relations, and media relations. These individuals discreetly apply their knowledge of issues, processes, and decision-makers to execute strategies that achieve clients’ goals.
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