tackle poverty and corruption, according to AFP news agency.  

Dr. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, 66, a banker and politician, took office on January 16, 2006, after she won the second round with 59% in the Liberian general elections. A fight against poverty, corruption, and the practice of good governance and tranparancy, formed the nucleus of Madame Sirleaf’s innaguaration speech.   

From 1980 to 1988 Boni worked for the Central Bank of the States of West Africa (BCEAO), becoming its deputy director, based in Dakar, Senegal. In 1988 he became deputy director for Professional Development at the West African Centre for Banking Studies, also in Dakar. From 1992 to 1994 he worked in the office of the President of Benin, Nicéphore Soglo, in charge of monetary and banking policy. Finally in 1994 he was appointed President of the West African Development Bank. 

Madame Sirleaf, after the overthrow of Liberia’s 19^th president, William R. Tolbert, went into exile in Nairobi, Kenya, where she worked for Citibank. She returned to run for Senate in 1985, but when she spoke out against Doe's military regime, she was sentenced to ten years in prison. Released after a short period, she moved to Washington, D.C.. She returned to Liberia again in 1997 in the capacity of an economist, working for the World Bank, and Citibank in Africa. 

Although the Benionoise leader noted his country did not experience war, except bad management and governance which yield the same results, the then Republic of Dahomey gained full independence from France August 1, 1960, and had experienced numerous troubles in the region. 

 Gen. Christopher Soglo deposed the first president, Hubert Maga, in an army coup in 1963. He dismissed the civilian government in 1965, proclaiming himself chief of state. A group of young army officers seized power in Dec. 1967, deposing Soglo. In Dec. 1969, Benin had its fifth coup of the decade, with the army again taking power. In May 1970, a three-man presidential commission with a six-year term was created to take over the government. In May 1972, yet another army coup ousted the triumvirate and installed Lt. Col. Mathieu Kérékou as president. Between 1974 and 1989 Dahomey embraced socialism, and changed its name to the People's Republic of Benin.

Meanwhile, after her troubled past, Benin, formerly known as Dahomey, has emerged as a beacon of democracy and is one of Africa's most stable nations. 

While Benin has seen economic growth over the past few years and is one of Africa's largest cotton producers, it ranks among the world's poorest countries, according to British Broadcasting Corporation, (BBC) 2007 May 2, online edition. The economy, BBC reports said, relies heavily on trade with its eastern neighbor, Nigeria.

To the north, there have been sporadic clashes along Benin's border with Burkina Faso. The trouble has been blamed on land disputes between rival communities on either side of the border. Thousands of Togolese refugees fled to Benin in 2005 following political unrest in their homeland. Benin called for international aid to help it shelter and feed the exiles.

With the similarities, including banking experiences, political agendas, philosophies, time of ascendancy to presidencies between the two leaders, observers believe much may be achieved between the two countries. Most important similarities between the two, observers believe, are their quests to uphold democracy, justice, and to promote national development and progress in their respective countries.  

Contonou used to be a household name in Monrovia after the convention of the Peace Conference on Liberia in 1993 in Contonou, Benin. “The Contonou agreement,” used to be lyrics in the streets of Monrovia during Liberians’ troubled days.   

The two leaders, based on their special relationship prior to their presidencies, observers believe, are bound to serve as influential political figures in West Africa as the two leader began to  discuss other regional and sub-regional issues including Guinea, Sierra-Leone and Cote d’Ivoire.  They welcomed progress in those countries towards the consolidation of peace, and noted the upcoming elections in neighboring Sierra-Leone.