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 Africaportal |
This is a list of presidents of Benin (formerly Dahomey) since the formation of the post of President in 1960, to the present day.
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| Africaportal |
This is a list of presidents of Benin (formerly Dahomey) since the formation of the post of President in 1960, to the present day.
| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Elected | Term of office | Political affiliation | Prime minister(s) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | ||||||
| Republic of Dahomey (1960–1975) | ||||||||
| 1 |  | Hubert Maga (1916–2000) | 1960 | 1 August 1960 | 28 October 1963 (Deposed in a coup) | 3 years, 88 days | RDD | Himself |
| – |  | Christophe Soglo (1909–1983) [a] | — | 28 October 1963 | 25 January 1964 | 89 days | Military | Position abolished |
| 2 |  | Sourou-Migan Apithy (1913–1989) | 1964 | 25 January 1964 | 27 November 1965 (Resigned) | 1 year, 306 days | PDD | Ahomadégbé-Tomêtin |
| – |  | Justin Ahomadégbé-Tomêtin (1917–2002) | — | 27 November 1965 | 29 November 1965 | 2 days | PDD | Himself |
| – | | Tahirou Congacou (1911–1993) | — | 29 November 1965 | 22 December 1965 (Deposed in a coup) | 23 days | PDD | Position abolished |
| 3 | | Christophe Soglo (1909–1983) | — | 22 December 1965 | 19 December 1967 (Deposed in a coup) | 1 year, 362 days | Military | Position abolished |
| – | | Jean-Baptiste Hachème (1929–1998) [b] | — | 19 December 1967 | 20 December 1967 | 1 day | Military | Position abolished |
| – | | Maurice Kouandété (1932–2003) | — | 20 December 1967 | 21 December 1967 | 1 day | Military | Position abolished |
| – | | Alphonse Alley (1930–1987) | — | 21 December 1967 | 17 July 1968 | 209 days | Military | Kouandété |
| 4 |  | Émile Derlin Zinsou (1918–2016) | 1968 (Jul) | 17 July 1968 | 10 December 1969 (Deposed in a coup) | 1 year, 146 days | Independent | Position abolished |
| – | | Maurice Kouandété (1932–2003) [c] | — | 10 December 1969 | 13 December 1969 | 3 days | Military | Position abolished |
| – | | Paul-Émile de Souza (1930–1999) [d] | — | 13 December 1969 | 7 May 1970 | 145 days | Military | Position abolished |
| 1 | | Hubert Maga (1916–2000) [e] | — | 7 May 1970 | 7 May 1972 | 2 years | RDD | Position abolished |
| 2 | | Justin Ahomadégbé-Tomêtin (1917–2002) [e] | — | 7 May 1972 | 26 October 1972 (Deposed in a coup) | 172 days | PDD | Position abolished |
| 5 |  | Mathieu Kérékou (1933–2015) | — | 26 October 1972 | 30 November 1975 | 3 years, 35 days | Military | Position abolished |
| People's Republic of Benin (1975–1990) | ||||||||
| (5) | | Mathieu Kérékou (1933–2015) | 1980 [1] 1984 [1] 1989 [1] | 30 November 1975 | 1 March 1990 | 14 years, 120 days | Military [f] / PRPB | Position abolished |
| Republic of Benin (1990–present) | ||||||||
| (5) | | Mathieu Kérékou (1933–2015) | — | 1 March 1990 | 4 April 1991 | 1 year, 34 days | PRPB / Independent | Soglo |
| 6 |  | Nicéphore Soglo (born 1934) | 1991 | 4 April 1991 | 4 April 1996 | 5 years | RB | Position abolished |
| (5) |  | Mathieu Kérékou (1933–2015) | 1996 2001 | 4 April 1996 | 6 April 2006 | 10 years, 2 days | Independent / FARD–Alafia | Houngbédji |
| 7 |  | Thomas Boni Yayi (born 1951) | 2006 2011 | 6 April 2006 | 6 April 2016 | 10 years | Independent | Koupaki Zinsou |
| 8 |  | Patrice Talon (born 1958) | 2016 2021 | 6 April 2016 | Incumbent | 8 years, 220 days | Independent | Position abolished |
The History of Benin since the 16th century, for the geographical area included in 1960 in what was then called the Republic of Dahomey before becoming the People's Republic of Benin.
Mathieu Kérékou was a Beninese politician who served as president of the People's Republic of Benin from 1972 to 1991 and the Republic of Benin from 1996 to 2006.
Sourou-Migan Marcellin Joseph Apithy was a Beninese political figure most active when his country was known as Dahomey. He arose on a political scene where one's power was dictated by what region in Dahomey one lived in.
Coutoucou Hubert Maga was a politician from Dahomey. He arose on a political scene where one's power was dictated by what region in Dahomey one lived in. Born a peasant in 1916, Maga served as a schoolmaster from 1936 to 1945, during which time he gradually gained considerable influence among the uneducated. He was elected to Dahomey's territorial assembly in 1947 and founded the Northern Ethnical Group, later renamed the Dahomey Democratic Rally. In 1951, Maga was elected to the French National Assembly, where he served in various positions, including premier from 1959 to 1960. When Dahomey gained its independence from France on August 1, 1960, Maga was appointed to the presidency, and was officially elected to that post on December 11.
Justin Ahomadegbé-Tomêtin was a Beninese politician most active when his country was known as Dahomey. He arose on a political scene where one's power was dictated by what region of Dahomey one lived in. He served as president of the National Assembly of Dahomey from April 1959 to November 1960 and as prime minister and vice president of Dahomey from 1964 to 1965.
Elections in Benin take place within the framework of a multi-party democracy and a presidential system. Both the President and the National Assembly are directly elected by voters, with elections organised by the Autonomous National Electoral Commission (CENA).
Tahirou Congacou was a Beninese politician, most active during the 1960s, when his country was known as Dahomey. He served as President of the National Assembly from 1964 to 1965, and in that capacity served as acting President of Benin from 29 November 1965 to 22 December 1965. He also served as acting foreign minister during 1965.
The Republic of Dahomey, simply known as Dahomey, was established on 4 December 1958, as a self-governing colony within the French Community. Prior to attaining autonomy, it had been French Dahomey, part of the French Union. On 1 August 1960, it attained full independence from France.
The Dahomeyan Democratic Rally was a political party in French Dahomey led by Hubert Maga.
The 1963 Dahomeyan coup d'état was staged on October 28, 1963, by Christophe Soglo, who took control of the Republic of Dahomey to prevent a civil war. He overthrew Hubert Maga, whose presidency faced extreme economic stagnation and a host of other problems.
Paul Darboux was a Beninese merchant and politician, most active when his country was known as Dahomey.
Benin, officially the Republic of Benin, is a country in Western Africa. It borders Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east and Burkina Faso and Niger to the north; its short coastline to the south leads to the Bight of Benin. Its size is just over 110000 km2 with a population of almost 8500000. Its capital is the Yoruba founded city of Porto Novo, but the seat of government is the Fon city of Cotonou. About half the population live below the international poverty line of US$1.25 per day.
The Dahomeyan Democratic Movement was a political party in French Dahomey.
The Dahomeyan Democratic Union was a political party in French Dahomey.
The Republican Party of Dahomey was a political party in French Dahomey led by Sourou-Migan Apithy.
The Dahomeyan Unity Party was a political party in the Republic of Dahomey.
The Dahomeyan Democratic Party was the sole legal political party in Dahomey from 1963 until 1965.
The 1972 Dahomeyan coup d'état was a military coup staged on 26 October 1972 by Major Mathieu Kérékou, who took control of the Republic of Dahomey and ended a system of government established following the annulled 1970 presidential election, in which three members of the Presidential Council were to rotate in power. Ahomadégbé-Tomêtin served as the Chairman at the time of the coup.
Adrien Degbey was a Dahomeyan politician.
 Republic of Dahomey (1960–1975) | |
|---|---|
 People's Republic of Benin (1975–1990) | |
| Republic of Benin (1990–present) | |
† Military * Interim | |