Benin - Government
Based on the etymolgy of Benin, it was named for the Bight of Benin, the body of water on which the country lies. The Government system in this country is the presidential republic type and the different Administrative divisions includes: 12 departments; Alibori, Atacora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Couffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou
National symbols
Leopard; national colors: green, yellow, red.
The flag
The National flag of Benin has two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red (bottom) with a vertical green band on the hoist side; green symbolizes hope and revival, yellow wealth, and red courage.
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note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia
The National Anthem
| Title | "L'Aube Nouvelle" (The Dawn of a New Day) |
|---|---|
| Lyric/music | Gilbert Jean DAGNON |
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note: adopted 1960
More about the government of Benin
| Date of Independence | 1 August 1960 (from France) |
|---|---|
| National holiday | Independence Day, 1 August (1960) |
| Legal system | civil law system modeled largely on the French system and some customary law |
| International law organization participation | has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction |
| Constitution | |
| History | Previous 1946, 1958 (preindependence); latest adopted by referendum 2 December 1990, promulgated 11 December 1990 |
| Amendments | Proposed concurrently by the president of the republic (after a decision in the Council of Ministers) and the National Assembly; consideration of drafts or proposals requires at least three-fourths majority vote of the Assembly membership; passage requires approval in a referendum unless approved by at least four-fifths majority vote of the Assembly membership; constitutional articles affecting territorial sovereignty, the republican form of government, and secularity of Benin cannot be amended; amended 2019 |
| Citizenship | |
| Citizenship by birth | no |
| Citizenship by descent only | at least one parent must be a citizen of Benin |
| Dual citizenship recognized | yes |
| Residency requirement for naturalization | 10 years |
| Executive Branch | |
| Chief of state | President Patrice TALON (since 6 April 2016) |
| Head of government | President Patrice TALON |
| Cabinet | Council of Ministers appointed by the president |
| Elections/appointments | president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); last held on 11 April 2021 (next to be held on 12 April 2026); note - the president is both head of state and head of government |
| Election results | 2021: Patrice TALON reelected president in the ; percent of vote - Patrice TALON (independent) 86.3%, Alassane SOUMANOU (FCBE) 11.4%, Corentin KOHOUE (The Democrats) 2.3% 2016: Patrice TALON elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Lionel ZINSOU (FCBE) 28.4%, Patrice TALON (independent) 24.8%, Sebastien AJAVON (independent) 23%, Abdoulaye Bio TCHANE (ABT) 8.8%, Pascal KOUPAKI (NC) 5.9%, other 9.1%; percent of vote in second round - Patrice TALON 65.4%, Lionel ZINSOU 34.6% |
| Legislative branch | |
| Description | Unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (109 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms except for the current members whose terms will end in 2026 to facilitate general elections) |
| Elections | Last held on 8 January 2023 (next to be held on 11 January 2027) |
| Election results | Percent of vote by party - Progressive Union for Renewal 37.6%, Bloc Republicain 29.2%, The Democrats 24%; seats by party - Progressive Union for Renewal 53, Bloc Republicain 28, The Democrats 28; composition- men 80, women 29, percentage women 26.6% |
| Judicial branch | |
| Highest court(s) | Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of the chief justice and 16 justices organized into an administrative division, judicial chamber, and chamber of accounts); Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle (consists of 7 members, including the court president); High Court of Justice (consists of the Constitutional Court members, 6 members appointed by the National Assembly, and the Supreme Court president); note - jurisdiction of the High Court of Justice is limited to cases of high treason by the national president or members of the government while in office |
| Judge selection and term of office | Supreme Court president and judges appointed by the president of the republic upon the advice of the National Assembly; judges appointed for single renewable 5-year terms; Constitutional Court members - 4 appointed by the National Assembly and 3 by the president of the republic; members appointed for single renewable 5-year terms; other members of the High Court of Justice elected by the National Assembly; member tenure NA |
| Subordinate courts | Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Court for the Repression of Economic and Terrorism Infractions (CRIET) or Cour de Repression des Infractions Economiques et du Terrorisme; district courts; village courts; Assize courts |
| Diplomatic representation in the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador Jean-Claude Felix DO REGO (since 17 July 2020) |
| Chancery | 2124 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008 |
| Telephone | [1] (202) 232-6656 |
| FAX | [1] (202) 265-1996 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] https://beninembassy.us/ |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador Brian SHUKAN (since 5 May 2022) |
| Embassy | 01BP 2012, Cotonou |
| Mailing address | 2120 Cotonou Place, Washington DC 20521-2120 |
| Telephone | [229] 21-36-75-00 |
| FAX | [229] 21-30-03-84 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] https://bj.usembassy.gov/ |
| National heritage | |
| Total World Heritage Sites | 3 (2 cultural, 1 natural) |
| Selected World Heritage Site locales | Royal Palaces of Abomey (c); W-Arly-Pendjari Complex (n); Koutammakou, the Land of the Batammariba (c) |
Key Political parties and their leaders in Benin
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International organization participation
All Important Facts about Benin
Want to know more about Benin? Check all different factbooks for Benin below.
