People's Republic of Benin

People's Republic of Benin République populaire du Bénin
← 1975–1990 →
Flag Coat of arms
Anthem L'Aube Nouvelle  (French) The Dawn of a New Day
Capital	Porto Novo
Language(s)	French
Government	Socialist republic
President
- 1975–1991	Mathieu Kérékou
Historical era	Cold War
- Military coup	October 26, 1972 1975
- Established	November 30, 1975
- Disestablished	March 1, 1990 1990
Currency	CFA franc

History of Benin
This article is part of a series
Kingdom of Abomey
Kingdom of Dahomey
Kingdom of Whydah
First Franco-Dahomean War
Second Franco-Dahomean War
French Dahomey
Republic of Dahomey
People's Republic of Benin
Republic of Benin
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The People's Republic of Benin (French: République populaire du Bénin) was a socialist state (commonly known as "communist" in the Western world) located in the Gulf of Guinea on the African continent, which would become present-day Benin. The People's Republic was established on November 30, 1975, shortly after the 1972 coup d'état in the Republic of Dahomey. It effectively lasted until March 1, 1990, once the newly formed country's constitution was complete, despite the abolition of Marxism-Leninism in the nation in 1989.^[1][2]

History

On October 26, 1972, the army took power in the Republic of Dahomey and dissolved the Presidential Council and the National Assembly. Commander Mathieu Kérékou headed the new government. On November 30, 1972 it released the keynote address of New Politics of National Independence. A new body, the National Council of the Revolution was created . The territorial administration was reformed, mayors and deputies replacing traditional structures (village chiefs, convents, animist priests...). On November 30, 1974 he declared in the city of Abomey, before an assembly of stunned notables, a speech proclaiming the formal accession of his government to Marxism-Leninism^[3]. The Republic of Dahomey aligned itself with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics^[4]. The People's Revolutionary Party of Benin, designed as a vanguard party, is created on the same day. The first year of the Marxist government is marked by purges in the state apparatus. Kérékou condemned, and sometimes executed, various representatives of the former political regime, and some of its own employees: Captain Michel Aipké, Interior minister, was sentenced to death and executed on a charge of adultery with the wife of the head of state. He was shot, and activists invited to file past his body^[5]. On November 30, 1975, with the first anniversary of the speech of Abomey, Dahomey name is symbolically abandoned in favor of that of Benin, named after the Union of Benin that had once flourished in neighboring Nigeria. The country became the Republic of Benin. The National Day was set for November 30, referring to three days of 1972, 1974, and 1975, dubbed by the regime the Three Glorious.

In January 1977, an attempted coup, called Operation Shrimp^[6], led by the mercenary Bob Denard and supported by France, Gabon, and Morocco failed and it helped to harden the regime, which was officially moving toward the way of a government-political party^[7]. The constitution was adopted on August 26 of that year, Article 4 stating: "

People's Republic of Benin, the road to development is socialism. Its philosophical basis is Marxism-Leninism to be applied in a lively and creative manner to the realities of Benin. All activities of national social life in the People's Republic of Benin are organized in this way under the leadership of the revolution of Benin, detachment vanguard of exploited and oppressed masses, leading core of the Beninese people as a whole and its revolution^[8].

A basic law established an all-powerful national assembly^[9].

The opposition was muzzled, and political prisoners remained in detention for years without trial. The elections were held under a system of unique applications. Campaigns were conducted for rural development and improving education. The government also pursued a policy of anti-religious inspiration, in order to root out witchcraft, forces of evil, and retrograde beliefs (West African Vodun, a traditional religion well established in the South, was prohibited^[10], which did not prevent Kérékou, a few years later, from having his personal marabout). The People's Republic of Benin received only modest support from other communist countries, hosting several teams from cooperating Cuba, East Germany, the USSR, and North Korea^[11].

Benin tried to implement extensive programs of economic and social development without getting results. Mismanagement and corruption undermined the country's economy. The industrialization strategy by the internal market of Benin caused an escalation of foreign debt. Between 1980 and 1985, the annual service of its external debt raised from 20 to 49 million, while its GNP droped from 1.402 to 1.024 billion and the stock of debt exploded from 424 to 817 million^[12]. The three former presidents, Hubert Maga, Sourou Migan Apithy, and Justin Ahomadegbe (imprisoned in 1972) were released in 1981.

Elected president by the Revolutionary National Assembly in 1980, re-elected in 1984, Kérékou escaped three attempts of coup in 1988.

In 1986, the economic situation in Benin had become critical: the system, ironically, already dubbed the Marxism-Beninism^[13] , inherited the nickname of laxism-Leninism. A popular running gag said that the number of supporters convinced by the regime did not exceeded twelve^[14]. Agriculture was disorganized, the Commercial Bank of Benin ruined, and communities were largely paralyzed due to lack of budget. On the political front, the violations of human rights, with cases of torture of political prisoners, contributed to social tension: the church and the unions opposed more openly the regime^[15]. Plans for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) imposed in 1987 draconian economic measures: 10% additional levy on wages, hiring freezes, and compulsory retirements. On June 16, 1989, the People's Republic of Benin signed with the IMF a first adjustment plan, in exchange for enhanced structural adjustment facility (ESAF) of 21.9 million Special Drawing Rights of the IMF. Were planned: a reduction in public expenditure and tax reform, privatizations, reorganization or liquidation of public enterprises, a policy of liberalization and the obligation to enter into that borrowing at concessional rates. The IMF agreement set off a massive strike of students and staff, requiring the payment of their salaries and their scholarships. On June 22, 1989, the country signed a rescheduling agreement first with the Paris Club, for a total of $ 199 million and Benin was granted a 14.1% reduction of its debt.

The social and political turmoil, the catastrophic economic situation and the fall of the communist regimes in Eastern Europe, lead Kérékou to agree to bring down his regime. In February 1989, a pastoral letter signed by eleven bishops of Benin expressed its condemnation of the PRC. On December 7, 1989, Kérékou took the lead and surprised the people disseminating an official statement announcing the abandonment of Marxism-Leninism, the liquidation of the Political Bureau, and the closure of the party's central committee^[16]. The Government accepted the establishment of a National Conference bringing together representatives of different political movements. The Conference opened on February 19, 1990: Kérékou expressed himself in person on February 21 publicly recognising the failure of his policy, claiming to be ashamed of him. The work of the Conference decided to draft a new constitution and the establishment of a democratic process provided by a provisional government entrusted to a prime minister. Kérékou remained head of state on a temporary basis. Kérékou said on February 28 to the attention of the Conference:

I accept all the conclusions of your work^[17].

A transitional government was set up in 1990, paving the way for the return of democracy and multi-party system. The new constitution was adopted by referendum on December 2, 1990. The official name of Benin was preserved for the country, which became the Republic of Benin. Prime Minister Nicephore Soglo, won 67.7% of the votes and defeated Kérékou in the presidential election in March 1991. Kérékou accepted the election results and left his office. He became president again by winning the election in 1996, having meanwhile dropped all references to Marxism and to atheism to become an evangelical pastor. His return to power involved no recovery of a Marxist-Leninist regime in Benin.

References

	Benin portal
	Communism portal

1. ^ Benin
2. ^ A short history of the People's Republic of Benin (1974 - 1990)
3. ^ Philippe David,The Benin, Karthala, 1998, page 60
4. ^ Auzias Dominique, Jean-Paul Labourdette, Sandra Fontaine,Benin Smart Little Country Guide, page 34
5. ^ Philippe David, The Benin, Karthala, 1998, page 61
6. ^ Roger Faligot Pascal Krop,Secret Service in Africa, The Sycamore Publishing, 1982, page 75
7. ^ Auzias Dominique, Jean-Paul Labourdette, Sandra Fontaine,Benin Smart Little Country Guide, page 35
8. ^ Omar Diop,Political parties and democratic transition process in Black Africa, Publibook, 2006, page 33
9. ^ Philippe David,'The Benin, Karthala, 1998, page 63
10. ^ Kerekou, the unavoidable, Jeune Afrique, 25 March 2010
11. ^ Philippe David,'The Benin, Karthala, 1998, pages 64-65
12. ^ Arnaud Zacharie, debt of Benin, a symbol of aborted democratic transition Committee for the Abolition of Third World debt
13. ^ Barnaby Georges Gbagbo, Benin and the human rights, L'Harmattan, 2001, page 208
14. ^ Philippe David, The Benin, Karthala, 1998, page 66
15. ^ Philippe David, The Benin, Karthala, 1998, pages 67-68
16. ^ Philippe David, The Benin, Karthala, 1998, page 68
17. ^ Philippe David,'The Benin, Karthala, 1998, pages 69-70