BENIN: LOCAL NGO ISSUES ALTERNATIVE REPORT ON THE STATE OF

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 COTONOU 000057

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/W ACOOK
LONDON FOR PETER LORD
PARIS FOR BKANEDA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR ECON EFIN PHUM BN
SUBJECT: BENIN: LOCAL NGO ISSUES ALTERNATIVE REPORT ON THE STATE OF
THE NATION

REF: COTONOU 44


1. (U) SUMMARY: On January 15, Joseph Djogbenou, the President of
Human Rights, Peace and Development NGO (DHPD-ONG) publicly
presented an Alternative Report on the State of the Nation in
response to President Yayi's December 30, 2008 State of the Nation
Address (Reftel). Djogbenou said that President Yayi's speech on the
State of the Nation had not reflected the mixed situation that
Beninese citizens faced in 2008, for it had concealed the major
flaws in the government's track record. The Alternative Report,
which was distributed to the audience at the end of the
presentation, indicates that President Yayi's achievement in 2008
was problematic in the areas of political, economic, social and
cultural governance. The Alternative Report on the State of the
Nation is the first of its kind since Benin opted for democracy in

1990. Emboff attended its launching. END SUMMARY






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Political governance
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2. (U) Joseph Djogbenou's Alternative Report on the State of the
Nation dated January 15, 2009, denounces the government's management
of the April 20 and May 1, 2008 local and municipal elections that
resulted in numerous irregularities and fraud allegations. It notes
also the government's attempt to control the National Independent
Electoral Commission (CENA) during the April and May local and
municipal elections, the suspension of the electoral process and the
subsequent delay in the inauguration of the newly elected mayors.
The report stresses the tense relations between the government and
the institutions of the Republic. A case in point is the resulting
deadlock in the national assembly, which forced President Yayi to
enact twice by decree. It evokes also the climate of generalized
suspicion in the National Assembly that led deputies to set up an
investigative committee to look at the President of National
Assembly's management. President Yayi's unpreparedness and haste in
making outstanding political decisions are denounced with reference
to his controversial decision to create new capitals in departments
which did not have one. The report blames the President for failing
to reach a political consensus in forming his 30-member cabinet on
October 22, 2008. The report finally points out that the unity of
major opposition groups against President Yayi ahead of the 2011
presidential election is symptomatic of 'UQP_/QU$Qhe sale of used cars, which did not conform to financial
management rules. Based on the findings of the Front of National
Organizations Against Corruption (FONAC),DHPD accuses the
government of failing to prosecute Beninese officials that faced
allegations of corruption. It reports also allegations against
President Yayi's government over cases of illegal awards of public
procurement in the health sector. However, DHPD hails President Yayi
for making considerable efforts to address price inflation, and for
engaging in extensive infrastructure development in the country
during 2008.



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Social and Cultural governance
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4. (U) The document contends that the Government did not take
adequate and diligent measures to solve the food crisis that the
country faced in 2008. Also, it notes that the government failed to
implement its decision to make registration free for Benin National
University's students, which led to a student strike at the
beginning of the academic year 2008-2009. In the same vein, the
government has not to date enforced its decision to make health care
free for children aged 0-5. The report mistakenly states that the
decision to make caesarean birth free for women lies dormant (Note:
In point of fact the Ministry of Health is pushing aggressively to
incorporate the service into its action plan. End Note.) The report
underlines that, though the government endeavoured to satisfy some
of the workers claims by increasing their salaries and paying
arrears, relations between it and unions remained tense during

COTONOU 00000057 002 OF 002


2008.According to the report, the government violated the freedom of
the press by inflicting administrative sanctions upon journalists
who criticized its policies during 2008.

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Methodology used for drafting the report
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5. (SBU) DHPD NGO tasked three experts with producing the first
draft of the Alternative Report. Then, it collected first hand
information on governance from ministries, the Secretary General of
the Government, the institutions of the Republic, and political
parties. Finally, DHPD NGO Board of Directors used the initial draft
made by the experts and the findings of the survey to finalize the
report in six weeks time. The last version of the report came after
President Yayi gave his speech on December 30, 2008, which enabled
DHPD to adjust its analysis to the content of the speech. (NOTE:
DHPD NGO is a serious and well known association that works for the
promotion of democracy, good governance and human rights. In 2006,
it played a crucial role in fighting to prevent former President
Kerekou from amending the constitution to stay in power. In 2008,
DHPD issued successively a Report on the Rule of Law and Democracy,
and an Assessment Report on the April 20 and May 1 Local Elections.
Joseph Djogbenou, the President of DHPD NGO, is considered by some
to be a brilliant lawyer and University teacher. Many in the
population highly appreciate his relevant and deep analysis on
various political issues. END NOTE)


6. (SBU) COMMENT: DHPD ONG's Alternative Report on the State of the
Nation is a novel analysis of the state of the nation from a
different perspective. The report appears to be an attempt to give
a balanced and even handed commentary on the Yayi government to
date. END COMMENT

BROWN