Long-form name: People's Republic of Benin

Type: Soviet-modeled civilian government

Capital: Porto-Novo (official), Cotonou (de facto)

Administrative divisions: 6 provinces; Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Mono, Oueme, Zou

Independence: 1 August 1960 (from France; formerly Dahomey)

Constitution: 23 May 1977

Legal system: based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: National Day, 30 November (1975)

Branches: Revolutionary National Assembly, National Executive Council

Leader: @m5Chief of State and Head of Government--President Mathieu KEREKOU (since 27 October 1972)

Suffrage: universal adult

Elections: National Assembly election was held in November 1979; Assembly then formally elected Kerekou President in February 1980

Political parties: People's Revolutionary Party of Benin (PRPB) is sole party

Communists: PRPB espouses Marxism-Leninism

Member of: AfDB, CEAO, EAMA, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICO, IDA, IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, ITU, NAM, Niger River Commission, OAU, OCAM, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Theophile NATA; Chancery at 2737 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 232-6656; US--Ambassador Walter E. STADTLER; Embassy at Rue Caporal Anani Bernard, Cotonou (mailing address is B. P. 2012, Cotonou); telephone Õ229å 30-06-50

Flag: green with a red five-pointed star in the upper hoist-side corner

NOTE: The information regarding Benin on this page is re-published from the 1989 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Benin Government 1989 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Benin Government 1989 should be addressed to the CIA.