CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION: THE APRM PROCESS AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION IN BENIN __________________________________________________________________________ Democracy and political governance: Mr Yenikoye Ismael Aboubacar, international consultant and former dean of the Faculty of Human Sciences in Niamey; and Mr Léopold Donfack Sokeng, professor of public law at the University of Douala. Economic governance and management: Mr Mbaya J Kankwenda, international consultant, executive director of the Congolese Institute for Development Research and Strategic Studies (ICREDES), former resident representative of the UNDP, and former minister of planning in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Corporate governance: Mr Karim Ben Kahla, professor of business management and the University of Tunis. Socioeconomic development: Mr Ousmane Diallo, international consultant and former minister of planning of Mali. 33. In accordance with the APRM mandate, the review mission further investigated and authenticated the results of the self-assessment done by the INCI-APRM on efforts made by Benin in the field of governance. In more concrete terms, the mission:  held extensive consultations with all stakeholders in order to deepen and complete the self-assessment report;  evaluated the draft programme of action submitted by the country and made appropriate proposals;  ensured, as far as was possible, that the self-assessment process carried out by Benin was technically satisfactory, credible and devoid of any political manipulation; and  established a consensus with the stakeholders on the remaining issues and challenges and made recommendations likely to improve governance in the country. 34. Hence, the mission met with all actors involved in the APRM process in Benin, particularly the president of the republic, representatives of the legislative and the judiciary, institutions of the republic, members of government, decentralised communities of departments and certain communes of the country, political parties, traditional authorities, employer and private sector organisations, civil society, opinion leaders, youth movements, women’s organisations, groups of disadvantaged persons and the media. 1.4 Activities conducted during the review mission 35. The work of the mission started with an audience granted by the head of state to the president of the mission. This was followed by the official launch of the review during a ceremony attended by the presidents of institutions of the republic, members of government, members of the diplomatic corps, members 39