Republic of Dahomey

The Republic of Dahomey (French République du Dahomey ) was the predecessor state of Benin. It was established on December 11, 1958 as an autonomous colony. Before it was given the autonomy, it was the French colony of Dahomey as part of the French Union. On 1 August 1960, received full independence from France.

History

First president of independent Dahomey was Hubert Maga Coutoucou, but he walked the democratic country gradually into a personal dictatorship to - under the rule of the Rassemblement Démocratique du Unity Party of Dahomey.

At the end of 1963, the first military coup took place in the country under the leadership of Colonel K. Soglo. It was adopted a new constitution and restored the multi-party system; also were held presidential and parliamentary elections. Sourou - Migan Apithy was elected president and told the history of the socialist path.

But two years later, in 1965, the second military coup came - this time by a group of senior officers. 1968 E. Zinsou was elected president, who now led a pro-Western course.

In December 1969, it came into the country to a third military coup. As a result, the power was returned to Maga and Apithy.

In October 1972 Major Mathieu Kérékou led by another coup. He took a one-party Marxist- Leninist ideology and proclaimed as a goal of government socialist construction. As of November 1974, he took over as head of the Politburo and was de facto ruler of Dahomey.

1975, the country was renamed from Kérékou in People's Republic of Benin, after the Bight of Benin ( which in turn is named in honor of the Kingdom of Benin, with its capital Benin City in modern Nigeria), since the name " Benin ", unlike " Dahomey " was considered politically neutral for all ethnic groups in the country.