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Benin

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Map of Benin Last reviewed: 3 January 2008

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POLITICS

Against the background of growing popular discontent and 2 coup attempts in 1988, Kerekou finally conceded to allow a Sovereign National Conference in 1989. This drew up a new constitution, adopted in December 1990. It provided for a return to multi-partyism and a qualified Executive Presidency, with a tenure limit of 2 terms of 5 years each, and for an upper age limit of 70 years for the President. It also provided for a 64-member (later increased to 83) National Assembly whose members must be civilians, and who are elected for 4-year terms renewable. The legislature was given the power to call Cabinet Ministers and the President himself to account if necessary. The President does not have the power to dissolve parliament. Constitutional amendments require the support of three-quarters of all deputies and a referendum or the support of four-fifths of all deputies.

The first Presidential and legislative elections held under the new constitution took place in 1991. 24 political parties took part, and 13 contested the Presidential election. Nicophore Soglo, beat his nearest rival, Mathieu Kerekou, with 67.7% of the vote. In March 1996, Kerekou re-emerged and won the Presidential election. He was re-elected 5 years later, in 2001, amid claims of fraud by the opposition. In the subsequent legislative elections of 2003, the pro-Kerekou coalition of parties won 63 of the 83 seats, of which the President's own party, the UBF won 31. This left the opposition with a mere 20 seats.

In 2005 Kerekou announced that he would not attempt to change the constitution in order to stand for a further presidential term of office. In the Presidential elections which took place on 5 March 2006 the independent candidate and former long serving head of the West African Investment Bank, Yayi Boni, unexpectedly won the highest vote (35.8%). The favourite, Adrien Houngbedji, won 24.2%. In the second round run off between Boni and Houngbedji, Boni, enjoying support of nearly all the other candidates, won easily with 74.6% of the vote. Parliamentary elections, held in March 2007, gave a majority for the Coaliation Force Cowrie for an Emerging Benin (FCBE), which supports President Boni. Boni has made some very public moves against corruption, including lifting the parliamentary immunity from prosecution for 2 parliamentarians of the ruling FCBE in July 2007. Local elections are due in February 2008.

BBC News Country Profile: Benin

HUMAN RIGHTS

Since the return to multi-party democracy in 1991, the human rights record of Benin has improved. There is a proliferation of political parties, there is a vibrant independent press, the trades unions are a powerful force and civil society is flourishing. There are some 5,000 local NGOs, including human rights groups, in operation, all operating freely without government interference. In spite of the existence of anti-corruption bodies and mechanisms, corruption remains a key problem.

Annual Human Rights Reports

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