CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION: THE APRM PROCESS AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION IN BENIN __________________________________________________________________________ report before submitting it to the head of state for validation and approval by the government. 27. It should be emphasised that, some time after the start of the APRM process in Benin, the country experienced a change in government with the election of Dr Thomas Boni Yayi as president in March 2006. The APR Panel was delighted that the new head of state was determined to continue and reaffirm Benin’s commitment to make itself available for assessment by its African peers. The president subsequently decided to invite the APR Panel to dispatch a review mission in July 2007 in order to present the report on Benin at the January 2008 forum. This invitation was publicly reiterated during the Summit of the Heads of State and Government held in Accra, Ghana, in July 2007. 1.3 The CRM 28. The Benin review mission was conducted by Mrs Marie-Angélique Savané, member of the APR Panel of Eminent Persons, between 15 July and 5 August 2007. Benin thus became the sixth country to be assessed and the first nonmember country of the NEPAD Implementation Committee. This meant that it was less informed about the APRM and less prepared for the process. More importantly, it was the first Francophone country in sub-Saharan Africa to be assessed. This was a new experience that will definitely interest other countries which are experiencing the same realities in the subregion and elsewhere on the continent. 29. The mission comprised 14 African experts from about 10 AU member states selected by virtue of their competence and experience in the field of governance in the different focus areas covered by the APRM. They were: 30. For the panel and the APR Secretariat: Mrs Marie-Angélique Savané, head of the mission and member of the APR Panel of Eminent Persons; Mr Gaston M Bushayija, Coordinator: Socioeconomic Development; Mr Moise Nembot, Coordinator: Democracy and Political Governance; Mr Sudir Chuckun, communications officer at the APR Secretariat; and Mr Dalmar Jama, Research Analyst: Corporate Governance. 31. For partner institutions: Mrs Souad Abdennebi, regional adviser for the promotion of women’s rights at the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA); Mr Daniel Gbetnkom, economic affairs officer at the ECA for the West African subregion; Mr Donatien Bihute, former vice president of the ADB and international consultant representing the ADB; and Mr Racine Kane, country economist at the ADB. 32. 38 For independent experts at the APR Secretariat: