Government (Benin)
==================


     Long-form name:
         Republic of Benin
     Type:
         republic under multiparty democratic rule; dropped Marxism-Leninism December
         1989; democratic reforms adopted February 1990; transition to multiparty
         system completed 4 April 1991
     Capital:
         Porto-Novo
     Administrative divisions:
         6 provinces; Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Mono, Oueme, Zou
     Independence:
         1 August 1960 (from France; formerly Dahomey)
     Constitution:
         2 December 1990
     Legal system:
         based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
         jurisdiction
     National holiday:
         National Day, 1 August (1990)
     Executive branch:
         president, cabinet
     Legislative branch:
         unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)
     Judicial branch:
         Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
     Leaders:
       Chief of State and Head of Government:
         President Nicephore SOGLO (since 4 April 1991)
     Political parties and leaders:
         Alliance of the Democratic Union for the Forces of Progress (UDFP), Timothee
         ADANLIN; Movement for Democracy and Social Progress (MDPS), Jean-Roger
         AHOYO; and the Union for Liberty and Development (ULD), Marcellin DEGBE;
         Alliance of the National Party for Democracy and Development (PNDD) and the
         Democratic Renewal Party (PRD), Pascal Chabi KAO; Alliance of the Social
         Democratic Party (PSD) and the National Union for Solidarity and Progress
         (UNSP), Bruno AMOUSSOU; Our Common Cause (NCC), Albert TEVOEDJRE; National
         Rally for Democracy (RND), Joseph KEKE; Alliance of the National Movement
         for Democracy and Development (MNDD), Bertin BORNA; Movement for Solidarity,
         Union, and Progress (MSUP), Adebo ADENIYI; and Union for Democracy and
         National Reconstruction (UDRN), Azaria FAKOREDE; Union for Democracy and
         National Solidarity (UDS), Mama Amadou N'DIAYE; Assembly of Liberal
         Democrats for National Reconstruction (RDL), Severin ADJOVI; Alliance of the
         Alliance for Social Democracy (ASD), Robert DOSSOU, and Bloc for Social
         Democracy (BSD), Michel MAGNIDE; Alliance of the Alliance for Democracy and
         Progress (ADP), Akindes ADEKPEDJOU, and Democratic Union for Social Renewal
         (UDRS), Bio Gado Seko N'GOYE; National Union for Democracy and Progress
         (UNDP), Robert TAGNON; numerous other small parties
     Suffrage:
         universal at age 18
     Elections:
       National Assembly:
         last held 10 and 24 March 1991; results - percent of vote by party NA; seats
         - (64 total) UDFP-MDPS-ULD 12, PNDD/PRD 9, PSD/UNSP 8, NCC 7, RND 7,
         MNDD/MSUP/UDRN 6, UDS 5, RDL 4, ASD/BSD 3, ADP/UDRS 2, UNDP 1
       President:
         last held 10 and 24 March 1991; results - Nicephore SOGLO 68%, Mathieu
         KEREKOU 32%
     Communists:
         Communist Party of Dahomey (PCD) remains active