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Country Name

Conventional long form: Republic of Benin

Conventional short form: Benin

Local long form: Republique du Benin

Local short form: Benin

Former: Dahomey

Administrative Divisions

Independence

1 August 1960 (from France)

National Holiday

National Day, 1 August (1990)

Constitution

December 1990

Legal System

based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

International Law Organization Participation

Citizenship

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive Branch

Chief of state: President Mathieu KEREKOU (since 4 April 1996); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

Head of government: President Mathieu KEREKOU (since 4 April 1996); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president

Elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 18 March 1996 (next to be held NA March 2001)

Election results: Mathieu KEREKOU elected president; percent of vote - Mathieu KEREKOU 52.49%, Nicephore SOGLO 47.51%

Legislative Branch

Elections: last held 28 March 1999 (next to be held NA March 2003)

Election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRB 27, PRD 11, FARD-ALAFIA 10, PSD 9, MADEPO 6, Alliance Etoile 4, Alliance IPD 4, CAR-DUNYA 3, MERCI 2, other 7

Judicial Branch

Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle, Supreme Court or Cour Supreme, High Court of Justice

Political Parties and Leaders

African Movement for Democracy and Progress or MADEP [Sefou FAGBOHOUN]; Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP [Adekpedjou Sylvain AKINDES]; Alliance of the Social Democratic Party or PSD and the National Union for Solidarity and Progress or UNSP [Bruno AMOUSSOU]; Benin Renaissance Party or PRB [Nicephore SOGLO]; Cameleon Alliance or AC [leader NA]; Car-DUNYA [leader NA]; Communist Party of Benin or PCB [Pascal FANTONDJI, first secretary]; Democratic Renewal Party or PRD [Adrien HOUNGBEDJI]; Front for Renewal and Development or FARD-ALAFIA; Impulse for Progress and Democracy or IPD [Bertin BORNA]; Liberal Democrats' Rally for National Reconstruction-Vivoten or RDL-Vivoten [Severin ADJOVI]; Movement for Citizens' Commitment and Awakening or MERCI [Severin ADJOVI]; New Generation for the Republic or NG [leader NA]; Our Common Cause or NCC [Francois Odjo TANKPINON]; Rally for Democracy and Pan-Africanism or RDP [Dominique HOYMINOU, Dr. Giles Auguste MINONTIN]; The Star Alliance (Alliance E'toile) [leader NA]; Union for National Democracy and Solidarity or UDS [Adamou N'Diaye MAMA]

Flag Description

Two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red with a vertical green band on the hoist side

National Anthem

Year	2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000

Government Type

Republic under multiparty democratic rule; dropped Marxism-Leninism December 1989; democratic reforms adopted February 1990; transition to multiparty system completed 4 April 1991

Data Code

Capital

Porto-Novo is the official capital; Cotonou is the seat of government

Diplomatic Representation in the US

Chief Of Mission
Ambassador Lucien Edgar TONOUKOUIN
Chancery
2737 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Telephone
[1] (202) 232-6656
FAX
[1] (202) 265-1996

Diplomatic Representation from the US

Chief Of Mission
Ambassador Robert C. FELDER
Embassy
Rue Caporal Bernard Anani, Cotonou
Mailing Address
B. P. 2012, Cotonou
Telephone
[229] 30-06-50, 30-05-13, 30-17-92
FAX
[229] 30-14-39, 30-19-74

International Organization Participation

ACCT
ACP
AfDB
ECA
ECOWAS
Entente
FAO
FZ
G-77
IAEA
IBRD
ICAO
ICFTU
ICRM
IDA
IDB
IFAD
IFC
IFRCS
ILO
IMF
IMO
Intelsat
Interpol

IOC
ISO (subscriber)
ITU
MIPONUH
MONUC
NAM
OAU
OIC
OPCW
UN
UNCTAD
UNESCO
UNIDO
UPU
WADB
WADB (regional)
WAEMU
WCL
WFTU
WHO
WIPO
WMO
WToO
WTrO

Benin