Benin: 11 Years After His Death, Mathieu Kérékou and His Political Destiny

Mathieu Kérékou, former president of Benin, died on October 14, 2015, in Cotonou at the age of 82. He came to power in 1972 through a coup d’État and led the country until 1991, adopting Marxist-Leninist policies from 1974. After losing to Nicéphore Soglo in 1991, he won the presidency again in 1996, was re-elected in 2001, and served a second term until 2006 before retiring from politics.