Benin Government
Benin Government: A summary of information about Benin Government, from government research data as well as independent research and other sources.
Benin: Government
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-Leninism December 1989; democratic reforms adopted February 1990; transition to multiparty system completed 4 April 1991
Capital
Porto-Novo is the official capital; Cotonou is the seat of government
Administrative divisions
6 provinces; Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Mono, Oueme, Zou note: six additional provinces have been reported but not confirmed; they are Alibori, Collines, Couffo, Donga, Littoral, and Plateau; moreover, the term "province" may have been changed to "department"
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
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
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (83 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms) 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 ; Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP ; Alliance of the Social Democratic Party or PSD and the National Union for Solidarity and Progress or UNSP ; Benin Renaissance Party or PRB ; Cameleon Alliance or AC ; Car-DUNYA ; Communist Party of Benin or PCB [Pascal FANTONDJI, first secretary]; Democratic Renewal Party or PRD ; Front for Renewal and Development or FARD-ALAFIA; Impulse for Progress and Democracy or IPD ; Liberal Democrats' Rally for National Reconstruction-Vivoten or RDL-Vivoten ; Movement for Citizens' Commitment and Awakening or MERCI ; New Generation for the Republic or NG ; Our Common Cause or NCC ; Rally for Democracy and Pan-Africanism or RDP ; The Star Alliance (Alliance E'toile) ; Union for National Democracy and Solidarity or UDS
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
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Lucien Edgar TONOUKOUIN chancery: 2737 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 232-6656 FAX: (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: 30-06-50, 30-05-13, 30-17-92 FAX: 30-14-39, 30-19-74
Flag description
two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red with a vertical green band on the hoist side
