APRIL 1: BENIN û One Page Web-based Report
Benin was formerly known as Dahomey, and became an independent nation in 1960, having formerly been a French colony. The name was formally changed to Benin in 1975.
From 1974 to 1989, Benin was considered a socialist state. However, by 1991 the country had become enough of a democracy to hold free elections. Geographically, Benin is in Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Togo and Nigeria.
Currently the President and Chief of State is Mathieu Kerekou. He was first elected in 1996. The presidential election is held every five years, which meant that in 2001, there was another Presidential election. However, of the various candidates, including Kerekou, none received a majority of the votes. So, there was to be a second round of balloting. But, the election, scheduled for March 18, 2001, had to be postponed for four days because two of the candidates accused the government of voter fraud, and withdrew. That left only Kerekou running against his own Minister of State, Bruno Amoussou. Kerekou won over 84% of that vote and remains President and Chief of State today. Benin's Congress has a single house, called the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale, with 83 seats, all members serving four-year terms. French remains Benin's official language.
The World Fact Book 2002 (2002). Accessed at: (www.odci.gov/cia/pub;ications/factbook/geos/bn.html)
Benin is a poor country. There are small offshore oil deposits. Limestone, marble and timber are the other main natural resources. Poverty is also due to the fact that only about 15% of the land is arable. With only 120 sq. km irrigated. Benin is relatively flat, the highest point in the country is only about 1500 feet high. Of course, it is a very tropical land, hot and humid in the South and semi-arid in the North.
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