Government and Administration

Formally a presidential Republic, Lopongo had a difficult transition toward democracy. President Sei Bruto has dominated the political scene since the late 1970s, and he has guarantee the stability of a governing coalition based on the two main tribal groups in Lopongo, the Kenema of the Southwest and the Makeni of the Southeast. In the north, the largely Muslim group of the Koitu has been largely excluded by any political role at national level.

The President of the Republic is also President of the Supreme Court of Justice and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. President Sei Bruto oversees a small cabinet which includes his cousin, the notoriously corrupted Kwanto Midevi, minister for economic development and natural resources, the minister for internal security Tebuto Disoto, and junior cabinet members for foreign affairs, social justice, legal affairs, health, agriculture and nutrition, information, youth and education. Government position are mostly distributed between leaders from the Kenema and the Makeni tribe; the only Muslim Koitu representative being Ali Mentari, minister for agriculture and nutrition.

Lopongo is divided into 11 departments, whose supervisors are appointed by presidential decree among the Bruto’s loyal followers. The departments are (ranked by population):

1. Banda


2. Duambouti


3. Port Durame


4. Ouidah


5. Malanville


6. Shenge


7. Djougou


8. Bo


9. Parakou


10. Natitingou


11. Kandi

Among local authorities, the most prominent is the current governor of the Port Durame district, general Mobutu Labomba, former chief of staff of the armed forces destituted by President Sei Bruto but strongly backed by the Makeni community.