Yearbook 2006
Benin. After ruling Benin for three decades, President
Mathieu Kérékou resigned in April. He gave the country
stability after a long period of military coups, first as a
Marxist-Leninist dictator, in recent years as advocates of
democracy and market economy. In the 2006 election, he was
not allowed to stand for age reasons.
He was succeeded by economist Boni Yayi, a newcomer to
politics who, in the decisive round of the presidential
election, clearly defeated former Prime Minister Adrien
Houngbédji. According to
CountryAAH, Boni was nominated as an independent candidate
but was supported by several parties. He set up a government
largely made up of trade experts and politically neutral
officials. His main election promise was to bring about
economic development and to reform the important cotton
industry.
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