Economy and Natural Resources

The economy of Lopongo remains underdeveloped and dependent on subsistence agriculture, cotton, bananas, and cocoa production, and regional trade. Growth in real output per capita has come to a standstill in the past six years. By the 2000s economic activity was declining and economic infrastructure had become seriously degraded. Rampant inflation has partially subsided, but remains in double digit. Efforts for an economic recovery failed because of the widespread corruption by public officials, which many feel is the chief cause for recent political uncertainty. Plans to attract more foreign investment have failed, mostly because of the near total government control on infrastructure - telecommunications, water, and electricity, among the most inefficient in the continent.

The country counts one international airport in Banda, and few minor airstrips, no railway system, and an underdeveloped road network (See image below). Lopongo is working with the World Bank to receive financing to build two major roads: from Natitingou to Djougou, and from Bo to Abomey.


Lopongo is supposed to be rich in minerals, although a modern mining has never been established. The country has the potential to become a major producer of gem-quality diamonds, which are supposed to be available in quantity in the mountains areas of Bombali and Sokbano. Nevertheless, Lopongo has historically struggled to manage the exploitation and export of diamonds.
Lopongo might also sit on important oil fields that are already being tapped by Nigeria across the border. Contentious negotiates with oil companies has thus far prevented exploration of the western areas in the Port Durame and Parakou districts.
A key indicator of success will be the effectiveness of government management of its diamond and oil sector.

Although trade unions in Lopongo represent up to 75% of the formal workforce, the large informal economy has been noted by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITCU) to contain ongoing problems, including a lack of women's wage equality, the use of child labor, and the continuing issue of forced labor.

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.

Geography

Stretched between the Niger River in the northeast and the Atlantic Ocean on the south, Lopongo is a small Sub-Saharan nation bordered by four countries: Nigeria to the east, Chad to the northeast, Burkina Faso and Guinea to the west. The independent and relatively affluent state of Sao Roque, a former Portuguese colony lying across the Gulf of Guinea, is connected to the Lopongan port of Duambouti by regular ferry service.
The country can be divided into four main areas from the south to the north:

• The low-lying, sandy, coastal plain is flat (highest elevation 10 meters). Near the coast, it is marshy and dotted with swamps, lakes and lagoons communicating with the ocean; further mainland, the region of lowland plains contains forests, bush and farmland.


• Dense bushy and rain-forested plains dotted with rocky hills mostly cover the central part of the country, whose altitude seldom reaches 400 meters. More farmland is found along the roads from Banda to Djougou, and in the Port Durame district.


• To the west and southwest lie two groups of mountains, the Bombali group south of Duambouti and the Sokbano group south of Djougou. The highest mountain of Lopongo is Mount Sokbano with a height of 986 meters. A valley running northeast to southwest along the Oueme River and the main road between Banda e Djougou splits the two plateaus.


• In the north, in the Kandi e Malanville districts, the sub-Saharan savanna is covered with thorny scrubs and huge baobab trees. Some forests line the banks of river Niger.

Lopongo has a tropical climate, hot and humid for most part of the year. The rainy season occurs between April and June as well as between September and October in the southern regions. The northern region is the driest part of the country, with near-desertic stretches at the border with Chad south of River Niger.
There are three major cities in Lopongo. The political capital is Banda, where the only international airport of the country is located. Two important ports are in Duambouti and Port Durame, respectively the second and third largest cities in the country.
The town of Ouidah, on the southern coast, is the spiritual capital of Lopongo.