Country
Countries A-Z
Benin
Republic of Benin
République du Bénin
Note: Following a year of political infighting and allegations of several coup plots (see Current issues, below), on August 8, 2013, President Boni Yayi dismissed Prime Minister Pascal Koupaki and the entire cabinet. On August 11 the president appointed a new cabinet, which excluded half of the incumbent ministers and did not include a prime minister. Yayi described the changes as designed to “inject a new team dynamic” into the government, while his critics noted that the absence of a prime minister automatically enhanced presidential authority.
Political Status: Independent Republic of Dahomey established August 1, 1960; military regime established October 26, 1972, becoming Marxist one-party system 1972–1975; name changed to People’s Republic of Benin on November ...