|
|
Bookmarks International Africa Benin Bookmarks
Benin
Internet Country Code: BN
Benin is located in Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin,
between Nigeria and Togo.
Present day
Benin was the site of Dahomey, a prominent West African kingdom that
rose
in the 15th century. The territory became a French Colony in 1872 and
achieved
independence on 1 August 1960, as the Republic of Benin. A succession
of
military governments ended in 1972 with the rise to power of Mathieu
KEREKOU
and the establishment of a government based on Marxist-Leninist
principles.
A move to representative government began in 1989. Two years later,
free
elections ushered in former Prime Minister Nicephore SOGLO as
president,
marking the first successful transfer of power in Africa from a
dictatorship
to a democracy. KEREKOU was returned to power by elections held in 1996
and 2001, though some irregularities were alleged.
Benin

Benin Flag
Capital: Porto-Novo
Languages
Arabic,
Berber, French
Hotels, Motels, Inns
Alger,
Algeria Hotels
Algiers,
Algeria Hotels
|

Benin Map
Land and Water Area
total: 112,620 sq km
land: 110,620 sq km
water: 2,000 sq km
Border countries: Burkina Faso 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria
773 km, Togo 644 km
|
Countries in Africa > Benin
|
|