The MSU African Studies Center will sponsor a teach-in titled, ‘Why Mali Matters’ on Tuesday, February 19, 2:00pm to 7:00pm. The objective of the teach-in is to understand the complexities of the current crisis in Mali which began with a coup last April. Prior to this crisis, many African experts viewed Mali as one of Africa’s most stable and democratic countries.

The teach-in will be held in Room 303-305 in the International Center. The teach-in will feature two former U.S. ambassadors to Mali, and scholars from MSU and other institutions.

The keynote speaker, Vicki Huddleston, the former U.S. ambassador to Mali (2002-2005), who recently served in the Obama administration as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs (2009) and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs (2010-2011), will address the complexities and uncertainties of the Mali crisis. The teach-in will also feature two panels of African experts; the first panel will feature social scientists who will address the historical roots and contemporary manifestations of the crisis, and the second panel will focus on the implications of MSU’s continued engagement in Mali.

Former U.S. Ambassador to Mali (1996-1999) and professor of Political Economy Spring Arbor University, David Rawson will be providing closing comments for the event.

Since 1985, MSU researchers have worked to improve agricultural productivity and access to food in Mali and other countries in West Africa. MSU’s food security team has also worked to strengthen the capacity of organizations to carry out such work in the future- as exemplified by MSU’s effort with the Malian faculty to create a degree program in agricultural economics and train a new generation of food policy analysts and private entrepreneurs in the country.

For more information, visit MSU African Studies Center (http://africa.isp.msu.edu/news/?id=1140).