Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): elections last held 28 March 1995; results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (83 total) Renaissance Party and allies 20, PRD 19, FARD-ALAFIA 10, PSD 7, NCC 3, RDL-VIVOTEN 3, Communist Party 2, Alliance Chameleon 1, RDP 1, ADP 1, other 16
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Political parties and leaders: as of August 1994, 72 political parties
were officially recognized; the following are among the most
important: Alliance of the Democratic Union for the Forces of Progress
(UDFP), Timothee ADANLIN; Movement for Democracy and Social Progress
(MDPS), Jean-Roger AHOYO; Union for Liberty and Development (ULD),
Marcellin DEGBE; Alliance of the National Party for Democracy and
Development (PNDD) and the Democratic Renewal Party (PRD), Pascal
Chabi KAO; Alliance of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the
National Union for Solidarity and Progress (UNSP), Bruno AMOUSSOU; Our
Common Cause (NCC), Albert TEVOEDJRE; National Rally for Democracy
(RND), Joseph KEKE; Alliance of the National Movement for Democracy
and Development (MNDD), leader NA; Movement for Solidarity, Union, and
Progress (MSUP), Adebo ADENIYI; Union for Democracy and National
Reconstruction (UDRN), Azaria FAKOREDE; Union for Democracy and
National Solidarity (UDS), Mama Amadou N'DIAYE; Assembly of Liberal
Democrats for National Reconstruction (RDL), Severin ADJOVI; Alliance
for Social Democracy (ASD), Robert DOSSOU; Bloc for Social Democracy
(BSD), Michel MAGNIDE; Alliance for Democracy and Progress (ADP),
Akindes ADEKPEDJOU, and the Democratic Union for Social Renewal
(UDRS), Bio Gado Seko N'GOYE; National Union for Democracy and
Progress (UNDP), Robert TAGNON; Party for Progress and Democracy,
Thiophile NATA; FARD-ALAFIA, Mathieu KEREKOU; The Renaissance Party,
Nicephore SOGLO; The Patriotic Union for the Republic (UPR),
Jean-Marie ZAHOUN; Union for the Conservation of Democracy, Bernard
HOUEGNON
Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CEAO, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77,
GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Lucien Edgar TONOUKOUIN chancery: 2737 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 232-6656, 6657, 6658 FAX: [1] (202) 265-1996
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Ruth A. DAVIS embassy: Rue Caporal Bernard Anani, Cotonou mailing address: B. P. 2012, Cotonou telephone: [229] 30-06-50, 30-05-13, 30-17-92 FAX: [229] 41-15-22
Flag: two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red with a vertical green band on the hoist side
@Benin:Economy
Overview: The economy of Benin remains underdeveloped and dependent on subsistence agriculture, cotton production, and regional trade. Growth in real output has averaged a sound 4% in 1991-94 but this rate barely exceeds the rapid population growth of 3.3%. Inflation jumped to 35% in 1994 (compared to 3% in 1993) following the 50% currency devaluation in January. Commercial and transport activities, which make up almost 36% of GDP, are extremely vulnerable to developments in Nigeria as evidenced by decreased reexport trade in 1994 due to a severe contraction in Nigerian demand. The industrial sector accounts for less than 10% of GDP and mainly produces foods, beverages, cement, and textiles. Support by the Paris Club and official bilateral creditors has eased the external debt situation in recent years. The government, still burdened with money-losing state enterprises and a bloated civil service, is gradually implementing a World Bank supported structural adjustment program.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $6.7 billion (1994 est.)