BENIN: Boni Yayi to become President

Yayi was born in Tchaourou, in the Borgou Department in northern Benin, then the French colony of Dahomey. He was educated in the regional capital, Parakou, and later studied economics at the National University of Benin. He studied banking at the University of Dakar in Senegal, and later economics and politics at the University of Orleans in France and at Paris University, where he completed a doctorate in economics in 1976.

From 1980 to 1988 Yayi worked for the Central Bank of the States of West Africa (BCEAO), becoming its Deputy Director, based in Dakar. In 1988 he became Deputy Director for Professional Development at the West African Centre for Banking Studies, also in Dakar. From 1992 to 1994 he worked in the office of the President of Benin, Mathieu Kérékou, in charge of monetary and banking policy. Finally in 1994 he was appointed President of the West African Development Bank (BOAD). For his work on West African development he was appointed Chevalier de l'Ordre National de Mérite of the French Republic.

With more than 70 percent of the votes counted in the first round of the elections, held on 5 March, Boni had polled nearly 32 percent, according to a Reuters report, although no official results had been posted. His nearest challenger, Adrien Houngbédji of the Party for Democratic Renewal, had reportedly polled 25 percent. Twenty-six candidates contested the election, which was reported to have been peaceful and fair. A runoff was held between Yayi and Houngbedji on March 19; Yayi won with almost 75% of the vote, and will take office on April 6



Boni Yayi, a former banker in his maiden bid for political office, has won nearly 75 percent of the vote in the final round of Benin's presidential election, according to provisional results from the National Electoral Commission.

Yayi won 74.51 percent of votes in the second run-off round on 19 March against 25.49 percent for veteran political leader Adrien Houngbedji, the electoral commission (CENA) said late Wednesday after counting 97.20 percent of the ballot papers.

Turnout was 67.01 percent against 70.87 percent in the first round on 5 March.

The election of a new president – the fourth poll since the introduction of multi-party politics in 1991 – marks a turning point for the tiny West African nation wedged between Nigeria and Togo. It ends almost three decades in office for President Mathieu Kerekou, who was ineligible to run due to his age and to having completed two successive terms. Doubts over whether he would relinquish the office at the end of his mandate 6 April clouded the run-up to the poll.

Yayi, who last month resigned as chairman of the Togo-based West African Development Bank to run in the election, said after voting last Sunday that "we must work together to take up the challenge of developing our nation". The 54-year-old ran as an independent with the backing of a coalition of parties and civil society groups.

While the run-up to the poll was marred by funding shortfalls, complaints from disgruntled electoral workers and fears of a less-than-smooth process, two peaceful rounds of voting once again reinforced Benin's status as an oasis of stability and democracy in turbulent West Africa.

Challenger Houngbedji, the 64-year-old leader of the Democratic Renewal Party who twice served as speaker of parliament, was quick to extend his congratulations. "Our country has turned a new page in its history. Our common duty is to get down to work to open the page of a strengthened unity, a deepened democracy and the beginnings of our development."




The Republic of Benin is a country in West Africa, formerly known as Dahomey or Dahomania. It has a small coast line with the Bight of Benin in the south, borders Togo in the west, Nigeria in the east, and Burkina Faso and Niger in the north.

The African kingdom of Dahomey originated in Benin. By the 17th century, the kingdom, ruled by an oba, stretched beyond the borders of present-day Benin, covering a large part of West-Africa. The kingdom was prosperous and established slave trading relations with the Europeans (mostly Portuguese and Dutch) who first arrived in the late 15th century. The coastal part of the kingdom became known as the Slave Coast.

By the 18th century, Dahomey started to fall apart, enabling the French to take over the area in 1892. In 1899, the land became part of the French West Africa colony, still as Dahomey. In 1958, it was granted autonomy as the Republic of Dahomey, and full independence started on August 1, 1960.

For the next 12 years, ethnic strife contributed to a period of turbulence. There were several coups and regime changes, with three main figures dominating - Sourou Apithy, Hubert Maga, and Justin Ahomadegbé - each of them representing a different area of the country. These three agreed to form a presidential council after violence had marred the 1970 elections. In 1972, a military coup led by Mathieu Kérékou overthrew the council. He established a Marxist government under the control of Military Council of the Revolution (CNR), and the country was renamed to the People's Republic of Benin in 1975. In 1979, the CNR was dissolved and elections took place. By the late 1980s, Kérékou abandoned Marxism after an economic crisis and decided to re-establish a parliamentary capitalist system. He was defeated in 1991 elections, becoming the first black African president to step down after an election. He returned to power after winning the 1996 vote. In 2001, a closely fought election resulted in Kérékou winning another term. His opponents claimed there were some election irregularities.


It is believed that Vodun (or "Voodoo", as it is commonly known) originated in Benin and was introduced to Brazil, the Caribbean Islands, and parts of North America by slaves taken from this particular area of the Slave Coast. The indigenous religion of Benin is practiced by about 60% of the population. Since 1992 Vodun has been recognized as one of Benin's official religions, and a National Vodun Holiday is celebrated on January 10.