The National Democratic Institute for International Affairs and The Republic of Yemen Cosponsored by The United Nations Development Programme and The Government of Japan In Partnership with the Governments of: The Netherlands The United Kingdom The United States And the: Canadian International Development Agency Friedrich Ebert Stiftung International Labour Organization Irish Aid National Endowment for Democracy United States Agency for International Development Westminster Foundation for Democracy World Bank		Benin Country Summary english - french - spanish The political system of Benin is based on the French hybrid, semi-presidential model. Considered by many observers to be a harbinger of political developments in the West Africa region in early 1990s, Benin was one of the first countries to make the transition to democracy from an authoritarian military-led regime. The country abandoned a Marxist- based system in 1989 under international and domestic pressure. A national conference was convened in 1990, which led to the formation of a new constitution and 1991 multiparty presidential and legislative elections. Since the transition, the office of president has been held by individuals from opposing parties following the 1991 and 1996 elections. Benin's democracy has also been strengthened through three national assembly elections that have resulted in different party coalitions holding the majority in the national legislature. This continuous alternation of power is unusual in the region. Challenges to the consolidation of Benin's democracy remain mostly external - it is an island of political stability in the region with neighboring countries that face continued political turmoil. Economic and Social Indicators Population: GNP: Per Capita GNP: Growth Rate: Illiteracy Rate: : Life Expectancy: 6 million $2.2 billion $380 2.3% 51%-males 74%-females 52-males 57-females The World Bank. World Development Report. Oxford Union Press,1999 Benin has experienced considerable economic growth since the beginning of the 1990s. The country's transition to democracy attracted development assistance and private investment, and the new elected government extended economic measures introduced by the previous regime. Strict adherence to structural adjustment programs in the early to mid-1990s resulted in macro-economic gains through strengthening of public finances, reform of the financial sector and improvement of the external balance-of payments. However, the government serving from 1991 to 1996 was accused of pursuing strong growth at the expense of social concerns, a perception which in part led to the return of the former one-party ruler via the ballot box in the 1996 elections. [ Introduction ] [ Declaration ] [ Conference Transcripts ] [ Discussion Board ] [ Forum Home ] [ NDI Home ]