Pearl T. Robinson

The National Conference Phenomenon in Francophone Africa

On February 19, 1990 a national conference opened in Benin at the Hotel PLM-Aledjo in Cotonou. Participants included representatives of the ruling Peoples Revolutionary Party, trade unionists, civil servants, students, religious leaders, a few agricultural producers, elements of the military, former heads of state, as well as Beninese living and working abroad. Members of the diplomatic corps and officials from the international financial institutions (IFIs) were also in attendance. The conferees claimed to represent the nation in its entirety-toutes les forces vives de la nation, quoi que soient leurs affinitees. In reality, they were drawn from the political class and the educated elites of civil society. President Mathieu Kdrekou opened the conference with a call for political renewal and a pledge to implement the IMFs structural adjustment program. He focused on the countrys severe economic crisis and called on the delegates to draw up a list of the problems to be addressed. General K6rekou was a reluctant reformer. Forced to convene the confer-

The Political Context of Regional Development in the West African Sahel

International political considerations are now an integral part of the fabric of the emerging African state systems. As national governments struggle with the complex problems of institution-building and economic development, they are increasingly obliged to look beyond their existing territorial boundaries. At the same time, it is not unusual to find that the economic, political, and bureaucratic interests of various expatriate government or inter-state actors are being pursued in the context of African development initiatives.