Benin Government 1997

Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Benin
conventional short form: Benin
local long form: Republique du Benin
local short form : Benin
former: Dahomey

Data code BN

Government type republic under multiparty democratic rule; dropped Marxism-LeninismDecember 1989; democratic reforms adopted February 1990; transition to multipartysystem completed 4 April 1991

National capital Porto-Novo

Administrative divisions 6 provinces; Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Mono, Oueme, Zou

Independence 1 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday National Day, 1 August (1990)

Constitution 2 December 1990

Legal system based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted compulsoryICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
chief of state: President Mathieu KEREKOU (since 4 April 1996); note - the presidentis both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Mathieu KEREKOU (since 4 April 1996); note - the presidentis both the chief of state and head of government; Prime Minister Adrien HOUNGBEDJI(since 9 April 1996) acts as assistant to the president; a prime ministeris not provided for in the constitution but was appointed by President KEREKOUwith the permission of the constitutional court
cabinet: Council of Ministers headed by the prime minister; all are appointedby the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election lastheld 18 March 1996 (next to be held March 2001)
election results: Mathieu KEREKOU elected president; percent of vote - Mathieu KEREKOU52.49%, Nicephore SOGLO 47.51%

Legislative branch unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (83 seats; membersare elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 28 March 1995 (next to be held NA 1999)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RB 20, PRD 19, FARD-ALAFIA10, PSD 7, NCC 3, RDL-VIVOTEN 3, Communist Party 2, Alliance Chameleon 1,RDP 1, other 17

Judicial branch Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle, Supreme Court or CourSupreme, High Court of Justice

Political parties and leaders Alliance of the National Party for Democracy and Development or PNDDand the Democratic Renewal Party or PRD [Pascal Chabi KAO]; Action for Renewaland Development or FARD-ALAFIA [Mathieu KEREKOU]; Alliance of the Social DemocraticParty or PSD and the National Union for Solidarity and Progress or UNSP [BrunoAMOUSSOU]; Alliance Chameleon; Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP[Adekpedjon AKINDES]; Alliance for Social Democracy or ASD [Robert DOSSOU];Assembly of Liberal Democrats for National Reconstruction or RDL [SeverinADJOVI]; Communist Party of Benin, [Pascal FATONDJI, First Secretary]; OurCommon Cause or NCC [Albert TEVOEDJRE]; Rally for Democracy and Progress orRDP; The Renaissance Party of Benin or RB [Nicephore SOGLO]
note: as of February 1996, more than 80 political parties were officiallyrecognized

International organization participation ACCT, ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WCL, WFTU, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

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, 6657, 6658
FAX : [1] (202) 265-1996

Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador John M. YATES
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

Flag description two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red with a vertical greenband on the hoist side

NOTE: The information regarding Benin on this page is re-published from the 1997 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Benin Government 1997 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Benin Government 1997 should be addressed to the CIA.