Global Law & Government
Benin Law & Government
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
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 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; Prime Minister Adrien HOUNGBEDJI (since 9 April 1996) acts as assistant to the president; a prime
minister is not provided for in the constitution but was appointed by President KEREKOU with the permission of the
constitutional court
cabinet: Council of Ministers headed by the prime minister; all are 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 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 1995 (next to be held NA 1999)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RB 20, PRD 19, FARD-ALAFIA 10, 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 Cour Supreme, High Court of Justice
Political parties and leaders: Alliance of the National Party for Democracy and Development or PNDD and the
Democratic Renewal Party or PRD [Pascal Chabi KAO]; Action for Renewal and Development or FARD-ALAFIA
[Mathieu KEREKOU]; Alliance of the Social Democratic Party or PSD and the National Union for Solidarity and Progress or
UNSP [Bruno AMOUSSOU]; 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 [Severin ADJOVI]; Communist Party of Benin, [Pascal FATONDJI, First Secretary]; Our Common
Cause or NCC [Albert TEVOEDJRE]; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP; The Renaissance Party of Benin or RB
[Nicephore SOGLO]
note: as of February 1996, more than 80 political parties were officially recognized
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