The19th anniversary of the National Conference of the Active Forces of the Nation
THIS MONTH, FEBRUARY 2009, BENIN IS TO CELEBRATE SOON THE ANNIVERSARY OF ITS CONFERENCE OF ACTIVE FORCES OF THE NATION WHICH HAS MARKED THE END OF SEVENTEEN (17) YEARS OF MILITARY AND REVOLUTIONARY RULE AND THE DEBUT OF A DEMOCRATIC ERA.
The Conference of Active Forces of the Nation took place from 19th to 28th of February 1990 and gathered four hundred and eighty eight (488) delegates from fifty one (51) political parties, different associations such as religious, professional and regional organizations including the Beninese of the diasporas.
The Conference had been convened by the Major General Mathieu KEREKOU, after months of civil unrest triggered by the economical crisis hitting the country; it was the worst crisis in decades. The Government of President Mathieu KEREKOU could not pay the salaries of the civil servants.
The military rule of Mathieu KEREKOU
Mathieu KEREKOU came to office on the 26th of October 1972 in a soldiery coup, after more than one decade of political instability marked by a succession of both military and civil governments.
In 1975, with the backing of the young elite, Marxism-Leninism was declared the official ideology of the State. Freedom of expression and multiparty system were banned.
In the late 80’s, the country’s economy was ruined. Mathieu KEREKOU therefore convened the Conference, in hope for a way to save the regime.
The Conference and its outcome
It was an unprecedented event in the history of the country when all Beninese were able to put their differences aside and let prevail consensus.
One unforgettable moment of the Conference was when Mathieu KEREKOU made his mea culpa and acknowledged his mistakes during the seventeen (17) years of military rule.
After sever criticisms of the regime of Mathieu KEREKOU and taking into consideration all the malpractice which plunged the country in a state of political, economical, social and cultural crisis, the delegates decided:
THIS MONTH, FEBRUARY 2009, BENIN IS TO CELEBRATE SOON THE ANNIVERSARY OF ITS CONFERENCE OF ACTIVE FORCES OF THE NATION WHICH HAS MARKED THE END OF SEVENTEEN (17) YEARS OF MILITARY AND REVOLUTIONARY RULE AND THE DEBUT OF A DEMOCRATIC ERA.
The Conference of Active Forces of the Nation took place from 19th to 28th of February 1990 and gathered four hundred and eighty eight (488) delegates from fifty one (51) political parties, different associations such as religious, professional and regional organizations including the Beninese of the diasporas.
The Conference had been convened by the Major General Mathieu KEREKOU, after months of civil unrest triggered by the economical crisis hitting the country; it was the worst crisis in decades. The Government of President Mathieu KEREKOU could not pay the salaries of the civil servants.
The military rule of Mathieu KEREKOU
Mathieu KEREKOU came to office on the 26th of October 1972 in a soldiery coup, after more than one decade of political instability marked by a succession of both military and civil governments.
In 1975, with the backing of the young elite, Marxism-Leninism was declared the official ideology of the State. Freedom of expression and multiparty system were banned.
In the late 80’s, the country’s economy was ruined. Mathieu KEREKOU therefore convened the Conference, in hope for a way to save the regime.
The Conference and its outcome
It was an unprecedented event in the history of the country when all Beninese were able to put their differences aside and let prevail consensus.
One unforgettable moment of the Conference was when Mathieu KEREKOU made his mea culpa and acknowledged his mistakes during the seventeen (17) years of military rule.
After sever criticisms of the regime of Mathieu KEREKOU and taking into consideration all the malpractice which plunged the country in a state of political, economical, social and cultural crisis, the delegates decided:
- to put an end to Marxism-Leninism as a State ideology;
to install a transitional regime which should lead to the establishment of a democratic constitution;
to appoint a Prime Minister and a Legislative body for transitional period.
Mathieu KEREKOU who had been for the second time in power from 1996 to 2006, rule which left the country once more weak economically, politically and socially – the citizens of Benin had hoped that Boni YAYI, when in office would bring the nation under its feet and help unify the people. His rise had roused a lot of hopes and enthusiasms even in the political arena. In the second round of the 2006 presidential elections, the parties of RB, PSD and MADEP supported him.
But, the reality since he is in office is quite different from what people had expected. Despite the apparent willingness of Boni YAYI to make this country an emerging nation, the momentum and the enthusiasm created by his rise are fading. Moreover, the country has been politically more divided than ever before as all the political arena is now focused on the preparation of the forthcoming elections scheduled for 2011.
The parties of RB, PSD and MADEP which rallied behind him in the second round of 2006 race for presidency are opposed to him now. These three parties are now members of the alliance of G4 that intends to work for a change in 2011 presidential elections.
Many analysts may see this situation as a predictable one. Nonetheless, things would be different, if the legacy of the Conference of Active Forces of the Nation could be restored.
For this restoration, there is the need for a collective introspection of the ruling class in order to indentify the main causes behind the current deep division. In this process of restoration, the Head of State has a major role play.
What should Boni YAYI do?
Boni YAYI needs to talk to the hearts of Beninese. The Head of State is yet to find his own style, his own way of governing. The deceitful and crafty strategy consisting of attempts to divide, to oppose and to weaken the political parties that his predecessor had used to rule is now outdated. Such a strategy may be useful in a totalitarian regime but has little chance to work in a democratic nation that wants to become an emerging country.
A more constructive dialogue based on trust and sincerity is what the Beninese need right now for the legacy of the Conference to be restored. It is the only way its 19th anniversary can be meaningful.
Alfred Cossi CHODATON
On Tuesday 11th of December 1990, a democratic constitution was adopted allowing multiparty system and freedom of expression।
On Sunday 14th of March 1991, the former Prime Minister of the transitional period, Nicéphore SOGLO became the first democratic elected Head of State in Benin since 1972. A Legislative Assembly made up of sixty four (64) parliamentarians was also elected.
Almost two decades of multiparty democracy
Since then, the country has undergone two democratic transitions of power. The institutions have been able to function and avoid any major crisis. The oversight of Government by National Assembly has been effective. The Constitutional Court has been ruling over the issues relating to the constitution and its decisions have generally been abode by. Benin democracy has been viewed abroad as one of the most vibrant on the african continent.
Nevertheless, there is still a lot of challenges that all the leaders so far have failed to deal with successfully.
Challenges of the Beninese democracy
The country review report of APRM released in January 2008 has extendedly listed some of the factors which still constitute challenges to the Beninese.
Corruption
The problem of corruption remains a major one. Nicéphore SOGLO, when coming in office in 1991, promised to fight corruption. But after more than eighteen (18) years during which Mathieu KEREKOU came back in office and handed over power to Boni YAYI in 2006, little has been done to really combat corruption. Different scandals have been following one another. So far nothing has truly been done about the several cases of embezzlement of public funds and wrongdoings. The APRM in its country review report mentioned the fight against corruption as one of the most important challenges facing Benin.
Plethora of political parties
The political forces have always appeared divided. More than one hundred and fifteen (115) political parties have registered in Benin for a population which is about from eight to nine million. These political parties have been unable to agree upon what should be considered as the priorities of any governmental policy and have been opposing each other on the base of selfish interests. Position of parties over the different issues involving the future of the country is not based on any ideology other than the quest of power. Most of the political parties in Benin do not have a nationwide electorate. Instead their influence is limited to specific regions or ethnics. This issue was also mentioned in the report of APRM.
Polarization of administration
The administration and civil service are therefore highly politicized and the appointments of officials are subjected to the concept of regional equilibrium. This problem also includes the fact that some decisions involving technical considerations are based on political motives. One example has been the decentralization of territorial administration where the current central Government has shown little willingness in handing over the management of needed resources to the local government.
Unreliable electoral system
Benin’s electoral system is still completely manual and always allows controversies and accusations of vote rigging. Moreover, there has been little willingness till now on the part of the political actors to implement the computerization of this electoral system.
Widespread poverty
Despite all the efforts of the previous and current public authorities, poverty remains a serious problem in Benin as « a third of the population lives below the poverty line ». Benin’s economy is dependent on its neighbors mainly on Nigeria. This makes it vulnerable. Informal sector is dominant in the economy.
Above all, the lack of unity mainly in the political arena has not allowed dialogue to take place over these issues since consensus and patriotism raised by the Conference of the Active Forces of the Nation have completely vanished.
The need to restore the Conference’s legacy
After the rule of the former Head of State,
Almost two decades of multiparty democracy
Since then, the country has undergone two democratic transitions of power. The institutions have been able to function and avoid any major crisis. The oversight of Government by National Assembly has been effective. The Constitutional Court has been ruling over the issues relating to the constitution and its decisions have generally been abode by. Benin democracy has been viewed abroad as one of the most vibrant on the african continent.
Nevertheless, there is still a lot of challenges that all the leaders so far have failed to deal with successfully.
Challenges of the Beninese democracy
The country review report of APRM released in January 2008 has extendedly listed some of the factors which still constitute challenges to the Beninese.
Corruption
The problem of corruption remains a major one. Nicéphore SOGLO, when coming in office in 1991, promised to fight corruption. But after more than eighteen (18) years during which Mathieu KEREKOU came back in office and handed over power to Boni YAYI in 2006, little has been done to really combat corruption. Different scandals have been following one another. So far nothing has truly been done about the several cases of embezzlement of public funds and wrongdoings. The APRM in its country review report mentioned the fight against corruption as one of the most important challenges facing Benin.
Plethora of political parties
The political forces have always appeared divided. More than one hundred and fifteen (115) political parties have registered in Benin for a population which is about from eight to nine million. These political parties have been unable to agree upon what should be considered as the priorities of any governmental policy and have been opposing each other on the base of selfish interests. Position of parties over the different issues involving the future of the country is not based on any ideology other than the quest of power. Most of the political parties in Benin do not have a nationwide electorate. Instead their influence is limited to specific regions or ethnics. This issue was also mentioned in the report of APRM.
Polarization of administration
The administration and civil service are therefore highly politicized and the appointments of officials are subjected to the concept of regional equilibrium. This problem also includes the fact that some decisions involving technical considerations are based on political motives. One example has been the decentralization of territorial administration where the current central Government has shown little willingness in handing over the management of needed resources to the local government.
Unreliable electoral system
Benin’s electoral system is still completely manual and always allows controversies and accusations of vote rigging. Moreover, there has been little willingness till now on the part of the political actors to implement the computerization of this electoral system.
Widespread poverty
Despite all the efforts of the previous and current public authorities, poverty remains a serious problem in Benin as « a third of the population lives below the poverty line ». Benin’s economy is dependent on its neighbors mainly on Nigeria. This makes it vulnerable. Informal sector is dominant in the economy.
Above all, the lack of unity mainly in the political arena has not allowed dialogue to take place over these issues since consensus and patriotism raised by the Conference of the Active Forces of the Nation have completely vanished.
The need to restore the Conference’s legacy
After the rule of the former Head of State,
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