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| Independence Year : 1960 Population : 6097000 Life Expectancy : 50.2 Capital : 187 GNP : 2357.00 GNP Old : 2141.00 Local Name : Bénin Government Form : Republic Location : Western Africa Terrain : Mostly flat plains of 200 meters average elevation, but the Atacora Mountains with the highest points being Mont Sokbaro 658 m, Mont Tanekas 641 m. Climate : Tropical, average temperatures between 24 and 31 C. Humid in south; semiarid in north. Ethnic Group : 42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon, Adja, Yoruba, and Bariba. Religions : Indigenous beliefs (animist) 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20% Official Website : www.gouv.bj/ | 
Genral Information - Benin
Background
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 ofMathieu 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. |
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