CHAPTER TWO: HISTORICAL CONTEXT AND CURRENT CHALLENGES __________________________________________________________________________ independence it enjoys, the judicial system lacks human, financial and material resources to fulfil its role. This is the reason behind the long delays in the courts. 94. In addition to these structural problems, the persistence of corruption at all levels weakens, and will continue to weaken, the process of consolidating democracy and will jeopardise economic and social developmental efforts. Will the personal commitment and determination of the current head of state facilitate the eradication all these difficulties? Only time will tell. The clearly displayed political will and the vigorous actions already undertaken may inspire hope in this essential area. 95. In the face of this sluggishness and these challenges and goals for the future of the nation, it should be acknowledged that Benin has assets that can enable it to realise its ambition of becoming an emerging country. These assets include: (i) Political will, which has helped to define a long-term vision for the country and to translate this vision into strategic development orientations. These orientations form the framework for the definitions of GPRS and sectoral policies, and also entrench the values and cultures of democracy, human rights and sociopolitical stability; (ii) A vast agricultural potential. Benin has 4.8 million hectares of arable land, of which hardly 1 million hectares are cultivated; (iii) Fishing, stockbreeding, forestry and even mining and tourism potentials, which are inadequately exploited; (iv) Its geographical position. Benin has 125 km of coast equipped with a major port, about 700 km of a common border with Nigeria (which represents a market of nearly 140 million potential consumers), and it borders with landlocked countries like Niger and Burkina Faso; (v) The youth and the dynamism of the population; (vi) The skills of the local labour force; (vii) The dynamism of the informal sector; and finally, (viii) Membership of regional monetary and economic groups. All these assets are helping the country to develop a solid productive base and prepare for its entry into the club of emerging African countries. In order to do that, Benin must ensure that it coordinates the implementation of its developmental strategies and their translation into sector policies. It must also struggle resolutely against the general canker of corruption, which has become more or less internalised as a culture and a mode, or instrument, of governance. It must also guard against the absence of accountability in the implementation of development policies. 56