Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - The African Union (AU) said Friday it had dispatched a top-level team of experts to review the reconstruction needs of Cote d’Ivoire, which emerged from a protracted presidential power struggle this year after years of fighting. The AU team, described as “multi-disciplinary” is made up of officials versed in development financing and under the leadership of a former Prime Minister.

The team will visit Cote d’Ivoire from 5 to 12 November, 2011, to assess the needs of the country in the field of post‐conflict reconstruction and development and identify the contribution that the AU and its Member States can make in this respect.

“This initiative, which is part of the AU support for peace building efforts in Cote d’Ivoire, will be undertaken, in cooperation with AU partners, particularly the African Development Bank (AfDB), the World Bank, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) and the European Union (EU),” the AU said in a statement.

The World Bank and other international players have launched discussions aimed at granting Cote d’Ivoire some incentives, including debt relief, to enable the West African nation recover.

The NEPAD Planning and Coordination Agency, which is a structure of the AU, as well as different Departments of the AU Commission, will also participate in the mission, the AU said.

The mission is led by Mr. Anicet Georges Dologuélé, former Prime Minister of the Central African Republic.

A former Director-General of the Central Development Bank of the Central African States (BDEAC), a former Minister of Finance, Planning and International Cooperation and a former Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Central African States Bank (BEAC) are also members of the team.

In addition to the representatives of the above‐mentioned organisations, the delegation comprises a number of other experts, including Mr. Samuel Nyambi, former UNDP official, who served as Resident Representative in several African countries, the AU explained.

Cote d’Ivoire emerged from a post-election crisis in April this year, which saw the newly-elected President Alassane Ouattara assume office as president defeating incumbent Laurent Gbagbo.

Gbagbo’s refusal to hand over power precipitated the crisis, leading to a long-drawn conflict which threatened to pull the West African nation back into conflict.

“It should be recalled that, at its 288th meeting, held on 10 August 2011, the AU’s Peace and Security Council (PSC) noted with satisfaction the significant progress made in the return to normalcy in Cote d’Ivoire since President Ouattara took up office,' the AU said in the statement.

The PSC reiterated the commitment of the AU to do everything to support the ongoing peace building and post‐conflict reconstruction efforts.

Pana 05/11/2011