1. Benin (Dahomey). 2001. The Encyclopedia of World History

The Encyclopedia of World History. 2001.


1. Benin (Dahomey)
1960, Aug

Dahomey gained independence from France. Northerner Hubert Maga became president after his Parti Dahoméen de l'Unité won national elections.	1

1967

Lt. Col. Alphonse Alley led a successful coup and formed the Comité Révolutionnaire Militaire. Alley assumed the presidency.	2

1972–74

Following a successful coup, Maj. Mathieu Kerekou implemented a program of “scientific socialism” in Dahomey. Key sectors of the economy were nationalized.	3

1975

Dahomey was renamed Benin.	4

1979

Transition to civilian rule occurred.	5

1985

Kerekou was reelected to a five-year term. A shift toward favoring the West continued.	6

1988, March and June

Foes of Kerekou made two unsuccessful coup attempts.	7

1996, March 24

Presidential runoffs in Benin were won by former Marxist military ruler Mathieu Kerekou. At his inauguration (April 4), Kerekou pledged national reconciliation and appointed his rival, former president Nicéphore Soglo, as minister of finance.	8

1999, March 30

In legislative elections Nicephore Soglo's Renaissance of Benin Party gained seats in the National Assembly, securing a majority.	9

2000, July

The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) qualified Benin for $460 million in debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative, legitimating the loan by citing Benin's increased economic growth and stability.	10


The Encyclopedia of World History, Sixth edition. Peter N. Stearns, general editor. Copyright © 2001 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Maps by Mary Reilly, copyright © 2001 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.