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This is a list of presidents of Benin (formerly Dahomey) since the formation of the post of President in 1960, to the present day.

List of officeholders

Political parties
  Dahomeyan Democratic Rally (RDD)
  Dahomeyan Democratic Party (PDD)
  People's Revolutionary Party of Benin (PRPB)
  Benin Rebirth Party (RB)
  Action Front for Renewal and Development (FARD–Alafia)
Other factions
  Military
  Independent
Status
  Denotes Acting/Interim Head of State
No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death) 		Elected Term of office Political affiliation Prime minister(s)
Took office Left office Time in office
Republic of Dahomey
1 Hubert Maga
(1916–2000) 		1960 1 August 1960 28 October 1963
(deposed.) 		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.) 		23 days PDD Position abolished
3 Christophe Soglo
(1909–1983) 		— 22 December 1965 19 December 1967
(deposed.) 		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.) 		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.) 		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
(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
(5) Mathieu Kérékou
(1933–2015) 		— 1 March 1990 4 April 1991 1 year, 34 days PRPB / Independent Soglo
6 Nicéphore Soglo
(born 1931) 		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 7 years, 330 days Independent Position abolished

Timeline

Patrice TalonThomas Boni YayiNicéphore SogloMathieu KérékouPaul-Émile de SouzaÉmile Derlin ZinsouAlphonse AlleyMaurice KouandétéJean-Baptiste HachèmeTahirou CongacouJustin Ahomadégbé-TomêtinSourou-Migan ApithyChristophe SogloHubert Maga

Notes

  1. ^ Styled as Head of the Provisional Government.
  2. ^ Styled as Chairman of the Revolutionary Committee.
  3. ^ Styled as Chief of Staff of the Army.
  4. ^ Styled as Chairman of the Directory.
  5. ^ a b Styled as Chairman of the Presidential Council.
  6. ^ Retired from the military in 1987, with the rank of a general.[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Elections in Benin African Elections Database
  2. ^ "Mathieu Kérékou, Dictator Who Ushered In Democracy in Benin, Dies at 82". The New York Times. October 15, 2015. Retrieved March 11, 2019.

External links

Presidents of Benin (list)
Benin articles
Categories