Benin
 

22 Jun 1894 - 4 Dec 1958

4 Dec 1958 - 30 Nov 1975;                 Re-adopted  1 Aug 1991

30 Nov 1975 - 1 Aug 1991

Map of Benin Hear National Anthem "L'Aube Nouvelle" (The Dawn of a New Day) Text of National Anthem Adopted 1960 Constitution (2 Dec 1990; in French) Capital: Porto-Novo (to 1927 Abomey) Seat of Government: Cotonou  Currency:  Communauté Financière Africaine Franc (XAF) National Holiday: 1 Aug (1960) National Day Population: 8,078,314 (2007) GDP: $8.93 billion (2006) Exports: $563 million (2006) Imports: $927 million (2006) Ethnic groups: Fon 39.7%, Yoruba (Nago) 12.1%, Adjara 11.1% Bariba 5.6%, Aizo 8.6%, Somba (Otomary) 6.6%, Fulani 5.6%, other 7.7% (1992) Total Armed Forces: 4, 550 (2003) Merchant marine: None (2006)  Religions: 35.4% Christian (Roman Catholic 25.9%, Protestant 9.5%), traditional beliefs and voodoo 35%, Muslim 20.6%, other 9% (1992) International Organizations/Treaties: ACP, AfDB, APM, AU, BTWC, CEMAC, CEN-SAD, CTBT, ECOWAS, ENMOD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISESCO, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, KP, MIGA, NAM, NPT, NTBT, OIC, OIF, OPCW, 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. 1899                       Part of French West Africa (see Senegal). 24 Jun 1911                Dahomey colony and Dependencies 16 Jun 1940 - Nov 1942     Administration loyal to Vichy France                              (after Nov 1942 Free French). 13 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) Fort William (1650-1807) Fort St. Louis (1671-1797)

Secretary of the Popular Revolutionary (Communist) Party of Benin (PRB)
18 Nov 1979 - 28 Feb 1990  Mathieu Kérékou                   (b. 1933)
                           (abandons Marxism Dec 1989; on
                            28 Feb 1990 one party rule ends)

French Agent in Porto Novo

23 Feb 1863 - 2 Jan 1865   Marius Daumas

French Consuls in Cotonou

1878 - 1881                Albert Richard Ardin d'Elteil

1881 - 1883                Victor Bareste

Residents in Porto Novo

Jun 1882 - 1883            Bonaventure Colonna de Lecca

1883                       Henri Guilman

1883 - 1884                Daniel Germa

1884 - Jul 1884            Léopold Maignot

Ju1 1884 - 1886            Charles Disnematin-Dorat

1886                       Émmanuel Roget

1886 - 1887                Jean Marie Bayol

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 Maire de

                             Beeckmann -Administrator

1889 - 19 Oct 1889         Louis Frédéric Émil Tautain 

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 

                             (acting)

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

30 Jun 1902 - Oct 1902     Charles 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  Jean Penel (acting for Liotard)

 5 May 1906 -  9 Jun 1906  Joseph Étienne Gabriel Lhuerre 

                             (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 Gaudart (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. 19..)

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

                             (acting to 11 Jul 1912)

 7 Apr 1917 - 29 Aug 1928  Gaston Léon Joseph Fourn

                             (acting to Jul 1919)

 1 May 1921 - 28 Feb 1922  Pierre Chapon-Baissac

                             (acting for Fourn)

 1 Apr 1924 - 26 Nov 1924  Alphonse Choteau

                             (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

                             Reste                            (b. 1879 - d. 1976)

 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 Paliceti 

                             (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)

Governors

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

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)

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

                            (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)  PRD

                           - Justin Ahomadegbé-Tomêtin        (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.)               PD

27 Nov 1965 - 29 Nov 1965  Justin Ahomadegbé-Tomêtin          (s.a.)               PD

                             (1st time) (acting) 

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

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

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

                             (chairman Revolutionary Committee)

20 Dec 1967 - 21 Dec 1967  Iropa 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)

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

                             (Chief-of-Staff of Army)

13 Dec 1969 -  7 May 1970  Paul-Émile de Souza                (b. 1930? - d. 1999) Mil 

                             (chairman 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-Tomêtin          (s.a.)               PD

                             (2nd time)(chairman Presidential Council) 

26 Oct 1972 -  4 Apr 1991  Mathieu Kérékou¹ (1st time)        (s.a.)         Mil/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 -              Yayi Boni                          (b. 1952)            Non-party

 

Vice President of the Government Council

25 May 1957 - 26 Jul 1958  Sourou Migan Apithy                (s.a.)               PD

Prime ministers

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

                            (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.)               PDU

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

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

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

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

Territorial Disputes: Benin and Burkina Faso military clash in 2006 over sections of riverine boundary involving disputed villages and squatters; much of Benin-Niger boundary, including tripoint with Nigeria, remains undemarcated; in 2005, Nigeria ceded thirteen villages to Benin as a consequence of a 2004 joint task force to resolve maritime and land boundary disputes, but clashes among rival gangs along the border persist; a joint boundary commission continues to resurvey the boundary with Togo to verify Benin's claim that Togo moved boundary stones.

Party abbreviations: FARD = Front d'Action pour le Rénouveau et le Développement (Action for Renewal and Development, centrist); PD = Parti Démocratique (Democratic Party, merger of PRD and UDD 1964); PRB = Parti de la Renaissance du Bénin (Party for the Rebirth of Benin, centrist); UTRD = Union pour le Triomphe du Renouvellement Démocratique (Union for the Triumph of the Democratic Renewal); Mil = Military;
- Former parties: PDU = Parti Dahoméen de l'Unité (Dahomian Unity Party); PRD = Parti du Rénouveau Démocratique (Democratic Renewal Party, merged into PD); PRPB = Parti du Revolutionare Popular du Benin = (Popular Revolutionary Party of Benin, communist -only legal party 1979-1990); RDD = Rassemblement Démocratique du Dahomé (Dahomey Democratic Rally);
UDD = Union Démocratique du Dahomé (Dahomey Democratic Union, merged into PD)

                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
Total Armed Forces: N/A Defense was the responsibility of Portugal Merchant marine: None (1960)		Religions: Roman Catholic
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 Frote 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.
1858 - 1861                Abandoned.
1861 - 1865                Ceded to French missionaries by the rulers of Dahomey.
23 Feb 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                abandonded
1721 - 1728                Francisco Pereira Mendes 
1728 - 1743                João Basílio
1743 - 1746                Martinho de Cunha Barbosa
1746                       Francisco Nunes Pereira (usurper) 
1746                       Francisco Espírito Santo (interim) 
1746 - 1751                Félix José de Gouveia (1st time) 
1751                       Luis Coelho de Brito
1751 - 1759                Theodósio 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 - 1796                Francisco António da Fonseca Aragão 
Apr 1797 - ....            Manuel Bastos Varela Pinto Pacheco 
1804 - 1805                Jacinto José de Souza              (d. 1805)
1805 - 1844                Francisco Félix de Sousa           (b. 1754 - d. 1849) 
                             (acting to 1818)
Governors
1844 - 1845                Joaquim José Libânio 
1845 -  4 May 1849         Francisco Félix de Souza           (s.a.) 
1849 - 18..                Quaresma 
1851                       Alferes Elerpech 
1851 - 1852                Isidoro Félix de Souza             (b. 1802 - d. 1858) 
1852 - 1853                João Justino da Costa 
1853 - 1858                José Pinheiro de Souza 
1858                       Francisco "Chico" Félix de Souza   (b. 1824 - d. 1880)
1858 - 1861                abandoned 
1861 - 1865                French missionaries 
1865 - 1868                José Maria Borges de Sequeira 
1868 - 1869                Vital de Bettencourt Vasconcellos 
                             Côrte Real do Canto 
1869 - 1872?               abandoned 
1872? - 18..               António Joaquim 
18.. - 1878                Augusto Fructuoso Figueiredo de 
                             Barros 
1878 - 1879                Lourenço da Rocha 
1879 - 1881                António José Machado 
1881 - 1883                .... 
1883 - 1885                Fernando Gonçalves 
1885                       Bernardo Francisco Luís da Cruz 
1885                       José Gomes de Souza 
1885 - 1886                Francisco Rego 
1886 - 1887                Antônio Domingues Cortez da Silva 
                             Curado 
1887 - 1888                Manuel Francisco Rodrigues 
                             Guimaräes 
1888                       Vicente da Rosa Rolim (1st time) 
1888 - 1890                Manuel José Ferreira dos Santos 
                             (1st time) 
1890                       Carolino Acácio Cordeiro 
1890 - 1893                Vicente da Rosa Rolim (2nd time) 
1893 - 189.                Manuel José Ferreira dos Santos 
                             (2nd time) 
1897 - 1898                Campos 
1898 - ....                Nunes da Aguiar 
1900 - 19..                António Mendes da Costa 
19.. - 1905                João de Deus Pires 
1905 - 1906                Joaquim Luís de Carvalho 
1906 - 1909                .... 
1909 - 1911                Sebastião Lousada 
1911                       Cândido João de Barros 
1911 - 1912                Guilherme Spínola de Melo
1912 - 19..                .... 
19.. - 1928                Viriato Henrique dos Anjos Garcez 
1928 - 1931                Joaquim Sinel de Cordes 
1932 - 1938                Miguel Maria Pupo Correia (1st time)
1938 - 1941                José Segurado Pimenta Avelar 
                             Machado
1941 - 1942                Jean Louis Bourjac 
                             (self-proclaimed; not recognized by Portugal)
1942 - 1944                José Vasconcelos e Sá Guerreiro
                             Nuno (1st time) (interim)
1944 - 1946                Carlos Alberto de Serpa Soares
1946                       José Vasconcelos e Sá Guerreiro
                             Nuno (2nd time) 
1946 - 1951                Miguel Maria Pupo Correia (2nd time)
Administrators
1951 - 1954                António João Teles Pereira
                             Vasconcelos
1954 - 1956                Ernesto António Pereira Enes 
Intendant
1956 -  1 Aug 1961         António Agostinho Saravia Borges

1671 - 1797                French Fort St. Louis at Ouidah.

French Commanders at Fort St. Louis (Ouidah)
1671 - 1690's              ....

c.1690's - 1704            abandoned

1704 - 17..                Gommet (or Gommat)
1712 - 1714                Du Colombier
1714 - 1722                Bouchel
1719 - 17..                Levesque
1724 - 1725                Derigoin
1727 - 1729                Houdoyer-Dupetitval                (d. 1729)
23 Jul 1729 - 1730         Gallot (acting)
1730 - 1731                Mallet de la Mine
1732                       Lavigne                            (d. 1732)
1732 - 1734                Julien du Belay                    (d. 1734)
1734 - 1737                Delisle
1737 - 1742                Laurent
1742 - 1746                Levet
1750 - 1755                Guestard
1755 - c.1758              Desbourdieux
17.. - 1762                Cuillie
1763 - 1764                Pruneau de Pommegorge
1764 -  5 Jul 1764         Remillat
1765 - 1774                Guestard                           (d. 1774)
1774 - 1775                de Warel
1775 - 1786                Olivier de Montaguère
1786 - 1789                Gourg
20 Aug 1797 - 1797         Denyau de la Garenne