CHAPTER THREE: DEMOCRACY AND POLITICAL GOVERNANCE __________________________________________________________________________ state such as Benin. This statute will set forth the rights and duties of kings and traditional authorities who would play the role of contributing to nation building in areas like peacekeeping, social harmony and cohesion, promoting justice and equity, and mobilising for the economic and social progress of grass-roots communities (the women, children, youth and the elderly). Indeed, democracy in Benin would stand to gain by creating this harmony to ensure joint and efficient coexistence between modern and traditional governance. The APR Panel seriously urges the Benin authorities to take this necessary action to salvage the nation. 126. Modern mechanisms also have shortcomings, which affect several areas such as:  Political and institutional conflicts 127. The CRM welcomes the climate of social peace in Benin and the absence of disputes between political parties or the various institutions of the republic. However, conflicts between traditional institutions (such as the long-standing dispute between two Abomey kings) or modern institutions (like the dispute about the competencies of the Constitutional Court or the Supreme Court, which has an impact on the proper administration of justice) deserve attention. Modern mechanisms seem to fare badly in this regard. 128. In this respect, the CRM welcomed the creation of the Presidential Mediation Body (OPM) and the appointment of the Mediator of the Republic. However, the issue of the legal framework of this institution requires close attention. A law should be passed to govern the conditions for the appointment, functioning and duties of this organ, as well as the material, human and financial resources needed to run it. 129. The CRM further observed that while the drafting, adoption and implementation of a statute by opposition parties on its role in the political, economic and social context may be a requirement of Benin’s political class, its completion and actual implementation are slow in coming. In this regard, it would be advisable to clarify the role of the opposition.  130. 70 Work-related conflicts The CRM noted with concern the flaws in the management and conflict resolution mechanisms, especially with regard to work-related conflicts. Recurrent strikes in the education sector – which have been condemned by education sector stakeholders because of their disastrous effects on the education of the youth – and a drawn out strike by judicial service workers (two months during which things came to a standstill in this important state institution) illustrate these weaknesses. In this regard, the CRM observed that there is no specific institution responsible for this type of conflict management and resolution.