Benin
 

22 Jun 1894 - 16 Nov 1959

16 Nov 1959 - 30 Nov 1975;                 Re-adopted 1 Aug 1990

30 Nov 1975 - 1 Aug 1990

Map of Benin Hear National Anthem "L'Aube Nouvelle" (The Dawn of a New Day) Text of National Anthem Adopted 30 Jul 1960 Constitution (2 Dec 1990) Capital: Porto-Novo (to 1927 Abomey) Seat of Government: Cotonou  Currency:  Communauté Financière Africaine Franc (XOF) National Holiday: 1 Aug (1960) National Day Population: 9,877,292 (2013) GDP: $16.65 billion (2013) Exports: $1.10 billion (2013) Imports: $1.83 billion (2013) Ethnic groups: Fon and related 39.2%, Adja and related 15.2%,  Yoruba and related 12.3%, Bariba and related 9.2%, Peulh and  related 7%, Ottamari and related 6.1%, Yoa-Lokpa and related 4%,  Dendi and related 2.5%, other 1.6% (includes Europeans),  unspecified 2.9% (2002) Total Active Armed Forces: 7,250 (2010) Merchant marine: None (2010)  Religions: Catholic 27.1%, Muslim 24.4%, Vodoun 17.3%, Protestant 10.4% (Celestial 5%, Methodist 3.2%, other Protestant  2.2%), other Christian 5.3%, other 15.5% (2002) International Organizations/Treaties: ACP, AfDB, APM, AU, BTWC, CEMAC, CEN-SAD, CCM (signatory), CTBT, CWC, ECOWAS, ENMOD, ESCR, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, ICSID, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, IRENA, ISA, ISESCO, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, KP, MIGA, NAM, NPT, NTBT, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCLOS, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFCC, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Benin Index Chronology 1650 - 1807                English Fort William at Ouidah. 1671 - 1797                French Fort St. Louis at Ouidah. 23 Feb 1863 -  2 Jan 1865  Porto-Novo a French protectorate. 19 May 1868                Cotonou a French protectorate. 14 Apr 1882                Porto-Novo a French protectorate.  5 Aug 1885 - 22 Dec 1887  Portugal declares a protectorate over Dahomey                               (with no effect). 1886                       Établissements Français du Golfe de Benin.  3 Dec 1892                French annex Whydah (Ouidah). 22 Jun 1893                Porto-Novo a French colony. 20 Jan 1894                Dahomey a French protectorate. 22 Jun 1894                Dahomey colony, including Porto Novo. 17 Oct 1899                Part of French West Africa (see Senegal). 24 Jun 1911                Dahomey colony and Dependencies 16 Jun 1940 - 13 Nov 1942  Administration loyal to Vichy France                              (after 13 Nov 1942 Free French). 27 Oct 1946                Dahomey an overseas territory of France.  4 Dec 1958                Autonomy (Republic of Dahomey).  1 Aug 1960                Independence from France (Republic of Dahomey). 30 Nov 1975                People's Republic of Benin  1 Mar 1990                Republic of Benin Traditional States Forte São João Baptista de Ajudá (1680-1961) English Fort William (1650-1812) French Fort St. Louis (1671-1797)

Secretary of the Popular Revolutionary (Communist) Party of Benin (PRBP)
18 Nov 1979 - 28 Feb 1990  Mathieu Kérékou                   (b. 1933)
                           ("leading role" of the party abolished 8 Dec 1989)

French Agent in Porto-Novo

23 Feb 1863 -  2 Jan 1865  Marius Denis Célestin Daumas

French Consuls in Cotonou

1878 - 1881                Albert Richard Ardin d'Elteil      (b. 1843 - d. 1894)

1881 - 1883                Victor Bareste                     (b. 1835 - d. 1889)

Residents in Porto-Novo

Jun 1882 - 1882            Bonaventure Colonna de Leca        (b. 1841 - d. 1882) 

1883                       Henri Guilman

1883 - 1884                Daniel Germa

1884 - Jul 1884            Léopold Maignot

Ju1 1884 - 1886            Charles Disnematin-Dorat           (b. 1826 - d. 1898)

1886                       Émmanuel Roget                     (b. 1856 - d. 1903)

1886 - 1887                Jean-Marie Bayol                   (b. 1849 - d. 1905)

1887 - 16 Jun 1887         Gentian Antonin Maire Péréton   

16 Jun 1887 - 11 Jul 1888  Victor Marie Paul Ballot           (b. 1855 - d. 1917)

                             (1st time)

11 Jul 1888 - 1889         Paul Alphonse Frédéric Marie de    (b. 1846 - d. 1915)

                             Beeckman -Administrator

1889 - 19 Oct 1889         Louis Frédéric Émil Tautain        (b. 1855 - d. 1905) 

19 Oct 1889 - 22 Dec 1891  Victor Marie Paul Victor Ballot    (s.a.)

                             (2nd time)

Lieutenant-governor

22 Dec 1891 - 22 Jun 1894  Victor Marie Paul Victor Ballot    (s.a.)

Governors 

22 Jun 1894 -  3 Jul 1899  Victor Marie Paul Victor Ballot    (s.a.)

 3 Jul 1899 -  8 Oct 1899  Jean-Baptiste Fonssagrives         (b. 1862 - d. 1910)

                             (acting)

 8 Oct 1899 - 26 Nov 1900  Pierre Hubert Auguste Pascal       (b. 1861 - d. 1946)

                             (acting)

26 Nov 1900 -  5 May 1906  Victor Théophile Liotard           (b. 1858 - d. 1916)

30 Jun 1902 - Oct 1902     Charles Emmanuel Joseph Marchal    (b. 1855 - d. 1917)

                             (acting for Liotard)

 1 Sep 1903 - 15 Jan 1904  Eugène Louis Frédéric Décazes      (b. 1844 - d. 1913)

                             (acting for Liotard)

15 Jan 1904 - 28 Jun 1904  Antoine Julien Oscar Penel         (b. 1843 - d. 1908)

                             (acting for Liotard)

 5 May 1906 -  9 Jun 1906  Joseph Étienne Gabriel Lhuerre     (b. 1855 - d. 1923) 

                             (acting)

 9 Jun 1906 -  8 Mar 1908  Charles Emmanuel Joseph Marchal    (s.a.) 

                             (acting to 16 Jul 1906)

 8 Mar 1908 - 22 Sep 1908  Marie Antoine Edmond Gaudart       (b. 1859 - d. 1942)

                             (acting)

22 Sep 1908 -  9 Oct 1908  Charles Désiré Auguste Brunet      (b. 1878 - d. 1957)

                             (acting)

 9 Oct 1908 - 25 Apr 1909  Jean Jules Émile Peuvergne         (b. 1849 - d. 1916)

25 Apr 1909 -  6 Mar 1911  Henri Jules Jean Baptiste Malan    (b. 1869 - d. 1912)

29 Jun 1909 - 10 Feb 1910  Raphaël Valentin Marius Antonetti  (b. 1872 - d. 1938)

                             (acting for Malan)

 6 Mar 1911 - 24 Jun 1911  Raphaël Valentin Marius Antonetti  (s.a.)

24 Jun 1911 -  9 May 1912  Émile Joseph Merwart               (b. 1869 - d. 1960)

Lieutenant-governors

 9 May 1912 -  7 Apr 1917  Charles Henri Adrien Noufflard     (b. 1872 - d. 1936)

                             (acting to 11 Jul 1912)

 7 Apr 1917 - 29 Aug 1928  Gaston Léopold Joseph Fourn        (b. 1868 - d. 1952)

                             (acting to Jul 1919)

 1 May 1921 - 28 Feb 1922  Pierre Aimable Chapon-Baissac      (b. 1876 – d. af.1934)

                             (acting for Fourn)

 1 Apr 1924 - 26 Nov 1924  Alphonse Paul Albert Choteau       (b. 1883 - d. 1936)

                             (acting for Fourn)

29 Aug 1928 -  4 Apr 1929  Lucien Eugène Geay (acting)        (b. 1900 - d. 1976)

 4 Apr 1929 -  8 Feb 1931  Dieudonné François Joseph Marie    (b. 1879 - d. 1976)

                             Reste                         

 8 Feb 1931 -  7 Jan 1932  Théophile Antione Pascal Tellier   (b. 1872 - d. 1955)

 7 Jan 1932 -  2 Aug 1932  Louis Placide Blacher              (b. 1883 - d. 1960)

 2 Aug 1932 - 22 Jul 1933  Louis Aujas (acting)               (b. 1876 - d. 1962)

22 Jul 1933 - 24 Aug 1934  Jules Marcel de Coppet             (b. 1881 - d. 1968)

24 Aug 1934 - 15 Feb 1935  Jean Hyacinthe de Santi (acting)   (b. 1899 - d. 1944) 

15 Feb 1935 - 12 Jan 1937  Maurice Léon Bourgine              (b. 1879 - d. 1963)

22 Sep 1935 - 1936         Jean Hyacinthe de Santi            (s.a.) 

                             (acting for Bourgine)

12 Jan 1937 -  7 Aug 1937  Henri Étienne Martinet (1st time)  (b. 1896 - d. 1941)

                             (acting)

 7 Aug 1937 -  7 Apr 1938  Ernest Gayon (acting)

 7 Apr 1938 -  1 Jun 1938  Henri Étienne Martinet (2nd time)  (s.a.) 

                             (acting)

 1 Jun 1938 - 27 Aug 1940  Armand Léon Annet                  (b. 1888 - d. 1973)

27 Aug 1940 - 18 Sep 1940  Pierre Jean André Saliceti         (b. 1893 - d. 1946)

                             (acting)

18 Sep 1940 - 26 Aug 1943  Léon Hippolyte Truitard            (b. 1885 - d. 1972)

26 Aug 1943 - 21 May 1946  Charles André Maurice Assier       (b. 1889 - d. 1952) 

                             de Pompignan

21 May 1946 - 13 Oct 1946  Robert Legendre (acting)           (b. 1891 - d. 19..)

Governors

13 Oct 1946 - 14 Jan 1948  Robert Legendre (acting)           (s.a.)

14 Jan 1948 - 13 Jan 1949  Jean Georges Chambon               (b. 1896 - d. 1965)

13 Jan 1949 - 19 Sep 1949  Jacques Alphonse Boissier          (b. 1910 - d. 1967)

19 Sep 1949 - Nov 1951     Claude Valluy (acting)

Nov 1951 - 21 Jun 1955     Charles Henri Bonfils              (b. 1908 - d. 2001)

21 Jun 1955 - 21 Mar 1958  Marc Casimir Biros                 (b. 1905 - d. 1995)

21 Mar 1958 - 15 Jul 1958  Bernard Hepp (acting)              (b. 1919 - d. 1986)

15 Jul 1958 -  4 Dec 1958  René Tirant (acting)               (b. 1907 - d. ....)

High commissioner

 4 Dec 1958 -  1 Aug 1960  René Tirant                        (s.a.)

Presidents

 1 Aug 1960 - 27 Oct 1963  Hubert Maga (1st time)             (b. 1916 - d. 2000) RDD;1960 PDU

                            (Head of State to 31 Dec 1960)

27 Oct 1963 - 28 Oct 1963  Provisional Government

                           - Hubert Maga                      (s.a.)               RDD

                           - Sourou Migan Apithy              (b. 1913 - d. 1989)  PR

                           - Justin Ahomadegbé                (b. 1917 - d. 2002)  UDD

28 Oct 1963 - 25 Jan 1964  Christophe Soglo (1st time)        (b. 1909 - d. 1983)  Mil

                             (Head of Provisional Government)

25 Jan 1964 - 27 Nov 1965  Sourou Migan Apithy                (s.a.)               PDD

27 Nov 1965 - 29 Nov 1965  Justin Ahomadegbé (1st time)       (s.a.)               PDD

                             (acting) 

29 Nov 1965 - 22 Dec 1965  Tahirou Congacou (acting)          (b. 1913 - d. 1976)  PDD

22 Dec 1965 - 19 Dec 1967  Christophe Soglo (2nd time)        (s.a.)               Mil

19 Dec 1967 - 20 Dec 1967  Jean-Baptiste Hachéme                                   Mil

                             (chairman Revolutionary Committee)

20 Dec 1967 - 21 Dec 1967  Maurice Kouandété (1st time)       (b. 1932 - d. 2003)  Mil

                             (Head of State) 

21 Dec 1967 - 17 Jul 1968  Alphonse Amadou Alley              (b. 1930 - d. 1987)  Mil

                             (Head of State) 

17 Jul 1968 - 10 Dec 1969  Émile Derlin Henri Zinsou          (b. 1918)            Non-party

10 Dec 1969 - 13 Dec 1969  Maurice Kouandété (2nd time)       (s.a.)               Mil

                             (Chief-of-Staff of Army)

13 Dec 1969 -  7 May 1970  Paul-Émile de Souza                (b. 1931 - d. 1999)  Mil 

                             (chairman of Directory)

 7 May 1970 -  7 May 1972  Hubert Maga (2nd time)             (s.a.)               RDD

                             (chairman Presidential Council)

 7 May 1972 - 26 Oct 1972  Justin Ahomadegbé (2nd time)       (s.a.)               ADD

                             (chairman Presidential Council) 

26 Oct 1972 -  4 Apr 1991  Mathieu Kérékou¹ (1st time)        (s.a.)    Mil;1975 PRPB;1990 PRB

 4 Apr 1991 -  4 Apr 1996  Nicéphore Dieudonné Soglo          (b. 1934)            PRB

 4 Apr 1996 -  6 Apr 2006  Mathieu Kérékou (2nd time)         (s.a.)               FARD 

 6 Apr 2006 -              Thomas Yayi Boni                   (b. 1952)            Non-party

 

Vice President of the Government Council

25 May 1957 - 26 Jul 1958  Sourou Migan Apithy                (s.a.)               PR; PND

Prime ministers

26 Jul 1958 - 22 May 1959  Sourou Migan Apithy                (s.a.)               PPD

                            (to 4 Dec 1958, president of the government council;

                             then president of the provisional government)

22 May 1959 - 31 Dec 1960  Hubert Maga                        (s.a.)              RDD;1960 PDU

31 Dec 1960 - 25 Jan 1964  Post abolished

25 Jan 1964 - 29 Nov 1965  Justin Ahomadegbé                  (s.a.)               PDD

29 Nov 1965 - 21 Dec 1967  Post abolished

21 Dec 1967 - 17 Jul 1968  Maurice Kouandété                  (s.a.)               Mil

17 Jul 1968 - 12 Mar 1990  Post abolished

12 Mar 1990 -  4 Apr 1991  Nicéphore Dieudonné Soglo (interim)(s.a.)               Non-party

 9 Apr 1996 - 14 May 1998  Adrien Houngbédji                  (b. 1942)            PRD 

14 May 1998 - 28 May 2011  Post abolished

28 May 2011 - 11 Aug 2013  Pascal Irénée Koupaki              (b. 1951)            UDBN

11 Aug 2013 - 18 Jun 2015  Post abolished

18 Jun 2015 -              Lionel Zinsou                      (b. 1954)            Non-party

Territorial Disputes: Talks continue between Benin and Togo on funding the Adjrala hydroelectric dam on the Mona River; Benin retains a border dispute with Burkina Faso around the town of Koualou; location of Benin-Niger-Nigeria tripoint is unresolved.

Party abbreviations: FARD = Front d'Action pour le Rénouveau et le Développement (Action Front for Renewal and Development, centrist, est.1994); PRB = Parti de la Renaissance du Bénin (Party for the Rebirth of Benin, liberal, est.1992); PRD = Parti du Rénouveau Démocratique (Democratic Renewal Party, Houngbédji personalist, est.1990); UDBN = Union pour le Développement du Bénin Nouveau (Union for the Development of New Benin, est.2010); Mil = Military;
- Former parties: ADD = Alliance Démocratique Dahoméen (J. Ahomadegbé personalist, UDD successor, est.Dec 1965); PDD = Parti Démocratique Dahoméen (Dahomey Democratic Party, mainly Yoruba-Nago & Fon-Adja, merger of PR and UDD, 1963-22 Dec 1965); PDU = Parti Dahoméen de l'Unité (Unity Party of Dahomey, merger of PND and RDD, 1960-1963); PND = Parti des Nationalistes du Dahomey (Nationalist's Party of Dahomey, S.M. Apithy personalist, Yorua and Nago based, 1960, merged into PDU); PPD = Parti Progressiste Dahoméen (Dahomean Progressive Party, anti-Ahomadegbé, merger of PR and MDD, 1958-1959, dissolved); PR = Parti Républicain Dahoméen (Republican Party of Dahomey, S.M. Apithy personalist, merged into PDU, 1951-1958, 1959-1963, renamed PND); PRPB = Parti de la Révolution Populaire du Bénin (Benin People's Revolutionary Party, communist, abandons marxism 8 Dec 1989, 1975-90 only legal party, 1975-1990); RDD = Rassemblement Démocratique Dahoméenn (Democratic Rally of Dahomey, northern based, H. Maga personalist, 1957-1965); UDD = Union Démocratique du Dahoméenne (Dahomey Democratic Union, Fon Adja-based, J. Ahomadegbé personalist, 1955-1961)   

                to 1 Aug 1961
 

Map of  São João Baptista de Ajudá	Hear National Anthem "A Portugesa" (The Portuguese)	Text of National Anthem Adopted 1910	Constitution
Capital: São João Baptista de Ajudá	Currency: Portuguese  Escudo (PTE)	National Holiday: 10 Jun (1580) Portugal Day	Population: 2 (1961)  5 (1921)
GDP: $N/A (1960)	Exports: $N/A (1960) Imports: $N/A (1960)	Ethnic groups: Portuguese 100%
Total Armed Forces: N/A Defense was the responsibility of Portugal Merchant marine: None (1960)		Religions: Roman Catholic 100%
International Organizations/Treaties: None

1680                       Portuguese governor of São Tomé and Príncipe establishes
                             a fort in the city of Hweda (in English: Whydah, French:
                             Ouidah, Portuguese: Ajudá).
17.. - 1721                Abandoned.
1721                       Fort re-established and named Forte de São João Baptista de Ajudá; 
                             subordinated to Brazil until 1821.
1730 - ...                 Under Companhia de Cacheu e Cabo Verde rule.
 7 Sep 1822 - 1844         Under the sovereignty of Brazil.
18 Apr 1861 -  6 Mar 1865  Occupied by French missionaries (expelled on 12 Apr 1865).
 6 Mar 1865                Fort reclaimed by the Portuguese; subordinated to the governors 
                             of São Tomé and Príncipe.
1869 - 1872?               Abandoned.
 1 Aug 1961                Occupied and annexed by Dahomey (Benin).
1975                       Annexation formally recognized by Portugal.
 

Directors
1680 - ....                Jacinto de Figueiredo Abreu 
.... - 1721                abandoned
1721 - 1728                Francisco Pereira Mendes 
1728 - 1743                João Basílio
1743 - 1746                Martinho de Cunha Barbosa
1746                       Francisco Nunes Pereira (usurper) 
1746                       Frei Francisco do Espírito Santo
                             (interim) 
1746 - 1751                Félix José de Gouveia (1st time) 
1751                       Luis Coelho de Brito
1751 - 1759                Teodósio Rodrigues da Costa 
1759                       António Nunes de Gouveia (interim)
1759 - 1762                Félix José de Gouveia (2nd time) 
1764 - 1767                José Gomes Gonzaga Neves
1768 - 1781                Bernardo Azevedo Coutinho
1782 - 1797                Francisco António da Fonseca e     (b. 1745 - d. ....)
                             Aragão (acting to 22 Jul 1784)
1797 - ....                Manuel Bastos Varela Pinto Pacheco
1805 - 1844                Francisco Félix de Sousa           (b. 1754 - d. 1849) 
                             (acting to 1818)
Governors
1844 - 1845                Joaquim José Libanio               (d. 1845) 
1845 -  4 May 1849         Francisco Félix de Souza           (s.a.) 
1849 - 18..                Quaresma 
1851                       Francisco Celestino Ellenperk      (d. 1851)
                             (Elerpech)
1851 - 1852                Isidoro Félix de Souza             (b. 1802 - d. 1858) 
1852 - 1853                João Justino da Costa 
1853 - May 1857            José Pinheiro de Souza 
May 1857 - Nov 1858        Francisco "Chico" Félix de Souza   (b. 1824 - d. 1880)
Jun 1859 - 18 Apr 1861     Claudio Lancastre
18 Apr 1861 -  6 Mar 1865  French missionary leaders
                           - Francesco Borghero               (b. 1830 - d. 1892)
                             (superior of the apostolic vicariat;
                              6 May 1861 - 12 Jan 1865)
                           - Philibert Courdioux              (b. 1838 - d. 1898)
                             (superior-delegate of Borghero)
1865 - 1868                José Maria Borges de Sequeira 
1868 - 1869                Vital de Bettencourt Vasconcellos  (b. c.1820 - d. 1870) 
                             Corte Real do Canto 
1869 - 1872?               abandoned 
1872 - 187.                António Joaquim da Fonseca         (b. 1839 - d. 1872) 
187. - 1878                Augusto Fructuoso Figueiredo de    (b. 1851 - d. 1921)                               Barros 
1878 - 1879                Lourenço da Rocha 
1879 - 1881                António José Machado               (b. 1852 - d. ....) 
1881 - 1883                .... 
1883 - 1885                Fernando Gonçalves 
1885                       Bernardo Francisco Luís da Cruz 
1885                       José Gomes de Souza 
1885 - 1886                Francisco Rego 
1886 - 1887                António Domingues Cortez da Silva  (b. 1849 - d. 1904) 
                             Curado 
1887 - 1888                Manuel Francisco Rodrigues 
                             Guimaräes
1888                       Vicente da Rosa Rolim (1st time)   (b. 1848 - d. 1940)  
1888 - 1890                Manuel José Ferreira dos Santos 
                             (1st time) 
1890                       Carolino Acácio Cordeiro 
1890 - 1893                Vicente da Rosa Rolim (2nd time)   (s.a.)
1893 - 189.                Manuel José Ferreira dos Santos 
                             (2nd time) 
1897 - 1898                Campos 
1898 - ....                Nunes da Aguiar 
1900 - 190.                António Mendes da Costa 
190. - 1905                João de Deus Pires (1st time)      (b. 18.. - d. 1900)
1905 - 1906                Joaquim Luís de Carvalho 
1906 - 1909                João de Deus Pires (2nd time)      (s.a.)
1909 - 1911                Sebastião Lousada 
1911                       Cândido João de Barros 
1911 - 1912                Guilherme Spínola de Melo          (b. 1876 - d. 19..)
1912 - 1913                Eduardo Germack Possolo            (b. 1886 - d. 19..)
1913 - 191.                Vicente da Rosa Rolim (3rd time)   (s.a.)
191. - 1918                ....
1918                       Vicente da Rosa Rolim (4th time)   (s.a.)
1919 - 1920                José Bento de Oliveira Viegas
1921 - 1928                Viriato Henrique dos Anjos Garcez 
1928 - 1931                Joaquim Sinel de Cordes            (b. 1890 - d. 1936)
1932 - 1938                Miguel Maria Pupo Correia (1st time)
1938 - 1941                José Pimenta Segurado Avelar       (b. 1893 - d. 1941) 
                             Machado
1941 - 1942                Jean Louis Bourjac 
                             (self-proclaimed; not recognized by Portugal)
1942 - 1944                José de Vasconcelos e Sá Guerreiro (b. 1899 - d. 19..)
                             Nuno (1st time) (interim)
1944 - 1946                Carlos Alberto de Serpa Soares     (b. 1908 - d. 1983)
1946                       José de Vasconcelos e Sá Guerreiro (s.a.)
                             Nuno (2nd time) 
1946 - 1951                Miguel Maria Pupo Correia (2nd time)
Administrators
1951 - 1954                António João Teles Pereira de
                             Vasconcelos
1954 - 1956                Ernesto António Pereira Enes       (b. c.1910 - d. ....)
Intendant
1956 -  1 Aug 1961         António Agostinho Saraiva Borges