List of heads of state of Benin

President of the Republic of Benin
Flag of Benin
Incumbent Thomas Boni Yayi since 6 April 2006
Term length	5 years, renewable once
Inaugural holder	Hubert Maga
Formation	31 December 1960

This is a list of Presidents of Benin (formerly Dahomey) since the formation of the post of President in 1960, to the present day.

A total of seven people have served as President (not counting two Acting Presidents, several interim military officeholders and a collective presidency). Additionally, one person, Mathieu Kérékou, has served on two non-consecutive occasions.

Presidents of Benin

(Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office)

Republic of Dahomey

Status

  Denotes Acting Head of State

President			Term of office			Political party
№	Portrait	Name (Born–Died)	Took office	Left office	Duration
1		Hubert Maga (1916–2000)	1 August 1960	28 October 1963 (Deposed)		Dahomeyan Democratic Rally
		Christophe Soglo (1909–1983)	28 October 1963	25 January 1964		Military
2		Sourou-Migan Apithy (1913–1989)	25 January 1964	27 November 1965 (Resigned)		Democratic Party
—		Justin Ahomadégbé-Tomêtin (1917–2002)	27 November 1965	29 November 1965		Democratic Party
—		Tahirou Congacou (1913–1994)	29 November 1965	22 December 1965 (Deposed)		Democratic Party
3		Christophe Soglo (1909–1983)	22 December 1965	19 December 1967 (Deposed)		Military
		Jean-Baptiste Hachème (1929–1998)	19 December 1967	20 December 1967		Military
		Maurice Kouandété (1932–2003)	20 December 1967	21 December 1967		Military
		Alphonse Alley (1930–1987)	21 December 1967	17 July 1968		Military
4		Émile Derlin Zinsou (1918–)	17 July 1968	10 December 1969 (Deposed)		Independent
		Maurice Kouandété (1932–2003)	10 December 1969	13 December 1969		Military
		Paul-Émile de Souza (1930–1999)	13 December 1969	7 May 1970		Military
		Hubert Maga (1916–2000)	7 May 1970	7 May 1972		Dahomeyan Democratic Rally
		Justin Ahomadégbé-Tomêtin (1917–2002)	7 May 1972	26 October 1972 (Deposed)		Democratic Party
5		Mathieu Kérékou (1933–2015)	26 October 1972	30 November 1975		Military

People's Republic of Benin

President			Term of office			Political party
№	Portrait	Name (Born–Died)	Took office	Left office	Duration
(5)		Mathieu Kérékou (1933–2015)	30 November 1975	1 March 1990		Military / People's Revolutionary Party of Benin

Republic of Benin

President			Term of office			Political party
№	Portrait	Name (Born–Died)	Took office	Left office	Duration
(5)		Mathieu Kérékou (1933–2015)	1 March 1990	4 April 1991		People's Revolutionary Party of Benin
6		Nicéphore Soglo (1935–)	4 April 1991	4 April 1996		Benin Rebirth Party
(5)		Mathieu Kérékou (1933–2015)	4 April 1996	6 April 2006		Action Front for Renewal and Development
7		Thomas Boni Yayi (1952–)	6 April 2006	Incumbent		Independent

Latest election

Main article: Beninese presidential election, 2011

Candidate	Party	Votes	%
Yayi Boni	Independent	1,579,550	53.14
Adrien Houngbédji	Democratic Renewal Party	1,059,396	35.64
Abdoulaye Bio-Tchané	Independent	182,484	6.14
Salifou Issa	Union for Relief	37,219	1.25
Christian Enock Lagnidé	Independent	19,221	0.65
François Janvier Yahouédéhou	Patriotic Revival Party	16,591	0.56
Jean-Yves Sinzogan	Independent	13,561	0.46
Akuavi Marie-Elise Christiana Gbèdo	Independent	12,017	0.40
Victor Prudent Topanou	Party for Republican Union	11,516	0.39
Késsilé Tchala Saré	Independent	9,469	0.32
Cyr Kouagou M'po	Independent	9,285	0.31
Antoine Dayori	Hope Force	8,426	0.28
Salomon Joseph Ahissou Biokou	Independent	7,893	0.27
Joachim Dahissiho	Independent	5,817	0.20
Invalid/blank votes		139,388	–
Total		3,111,833	100
Registered voters/turnout		3,668,558	84.8
Source: African Elections Database

See also

• Dahomey
• Benin
  • List of heads of government of Benin
  • List of colonial governors of Dahomey
• Lists of office-holders

External links

• World Statesmen (Benin)