List of presidents of Benin facts for kids

Benin is a country located in West Africa. This page provides a list of all the leaders who have served as President of Benin. The role of President was created in 1960 when the country gained its independence. Before 1975, Benin was known by its former name, Dahomey. The President is the main leader of the country, responsible for its government and people.

Leaders of Benin

This section presents a clear list of all the presidents who have led Benin since it became an independent nation. You will find their names, pictures, the dates they started and finished their time in office, and the political groups they were associated with.

Understanding the Leaders List

To help you understand the information in the table below, here is a quick guide:

• Political Parties: These are groups of people who share similar ideas about how the country should be run.

     Dahomeyan Unity Party (PDU)      Dahomeyan Democratic Party (PDD)      People's Revolutionary Party of Benin (PRPB)      Action Front for Renewal and Development (FARD–Alafia)

• Other Groups: Sometimes, leaders came from other types of organizations, like the military.

     Military      Independent

• Special Status:

     This color indicates that the person was an acting or temporary head of state.

Presidents of Benin: A Historical Look

Here is the list of presidents who have led Benin:

No.	Portrait	Name (Born–Died)	Term of office			Political party		Elected	Government(s)
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
Republic of Dahomey (1960–1975)
1		Hubert Maga (1916–2000)	1 August 1960	28 October 1963 (Deposed)	3 years, 88 days		Independent	—	Maga I
							PDU	1960
–		Christophe Soglo (1909–1983) acting	28 October 1963	25 January 1964	89 days		Military	—	Maga I
2		Sourou-Migan Apithy (1913–1989)	25 January 1964	27 November 1965 (Resigned)	1 year, 306 days		PDD	1964	Apithy
–		Justin Ahomadégbé-Tomêtin (1917–2002) acting	27 November 1965	29 November 1965	2 days		PDD	—	Apithy
–		Tahirou Congacou (1911–1993) acting	29 November 1965	22 December 1965 (Deposed)	23 days		PDD	—	Apithy
3		Christophe Soglo (1909–1983)	22 December 1965	17 December 1967 (Deposed)	1 year, 360 days		Military	—	Soglo
–		Jean-Baptiste Hachème (1929–1998) acting	17 December 1967	20 December 1967	3 days		Military	—	Revolutionary Committee
–		Maurice Kouandété (1932–2003) acting	20 December 1967	21 December 1967	1 day		Military	—	Revolutionary Committee
–		Alphonse Alley (1930–1987) acting	21 December 1967	17 July 1968	209 days		Military	—	Revolutionary Committee
									Provisional Government
4		Émile Derlin Zinsou (1918–2016)	17 July 1968	10 December 1969 (Deposed)	1 year, 146 days		Independent	1968 (Jul)	Zinsou
–		Maurice Kouandété (1932–2003) acting	10 December 1969	13 December 1969	3 days		Military	—
–		Paul-Émile de Souza (1930–1999)	13 December 1969	7 May 1970	145 days		Military	—	Directory
1		Hubert Maga (1916–2000)	7 May 1970	7 May 1972	2 years		Independent	1970	Maga II
5		Justin Ahomadégbé-Tomêtin (1917–2002)	7 May 1972	26 October 1972 (Deposed)	172 days		Independent		Ahomadégbé-Tomêtin
6		Mathieu Kérékou (1933–2015)	26 October 1972	30 November 1975	3 years, 35 days		Military	—	Kérékou I
People's Republic of Benin (1975–1990)
(6)		Mathieu Kérékou (1933–2015)	30 November 1975	1 March 1990	14 years, 120 days		Military	1980	Central Committee
								1984
							PRPB	1989
Republic of Benin (1990–present)
(6)		Mathieu Kérékou (1933–2015)	1 March 1990	4 April 1991	1 year, 34 days		PRPB	—	Kérékou II
							Independent
7		Nicéphore Soglo (born 1934)	4 April 1991	4 April 1996	5 years		Independent	1991	Soglo
(6)		Mathieu Kérékou (1933–2015)	4 April 1996	6 April 2006	10 years, 2 days		FARD–Alafia	1996	Kérékou III
								2001	Kérékou IV
8		Thomas Boni Yayi (born 1951)	6 April 2006	6 April 2016	10 years		Independent	2006	Yayi I [fr]
								—	Yayi II
								—	Yayi III
								—	Yayi IV
								—	Yayi V
								—	Yayi VI
								2011	Yayi VII
								—	Yayi VIII
								—	Yayi IX
								—	Yayi X
9		Patrice Talon (born 1958)	6 April 2016	Incumbent	10 years, 22 days		Independent	2016	Talon I [fr]
								2021	Talon II [fr]
10		Romuald Wadagni (born 1976)	President-elect				Independent	2026	Wadagni

Timeline of Leadership

This timeline visually shows you when each president served. You can see how long each leader was in power and which political group they were part of.

See also

In Spanish: Anexo:Presidentes de la República de Benín para niños

• President of Benin
• Vice President of Benin
• List of prime ministers of Benin
• List of colonial governors of Dahomey
• Politics of Benin