Benin

Benin is officially known as the Republic of Benin. The country is situated in the Western Africa. It shares its border with Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east and Burkina Faso and Niger to the north. The country is bounded by the Bight of Benin in the south. The capital city Porto Novo is located at 6 29 N, 2 37 E. Cotonou is the seat of government.


HISTORY:- Benin was formerly known as  Dahomey. The Abomey kingdom of the Dahomey was established in 1625. European touched the region first when the French gained the control of the country. It was included in the French West African colony in 1904. The Republic of Dahomey was granted autonomy in 1958 by the French and finally it gained complete independence in 1960 on 1st August with Hubert Maga as the first President. Gen. Christophe Soglo overthrew the first President and declared himself as the chief of state. Sourou Apithy, Hubert Maga, and Justin Ahomadegbé set up a presidential council in 1970, which was again dissolved by a military coup in 1972. The military coup was led by Mathieu Kérékou, who changed the country’s name to People\'s Republic of Benin in 1975.

 

GEOGRAPHY:- Benin is situated at 9 30 N, 2 15 E in the Western Africa. The country occupies total 110,620 sq km land area and 2,000 sq km water area. The total coastline, the country owns is 121 km along with the Bight of Benin. The lowest point is Atlantic Ocean (0 m) and the highest point Mont Sokbaro (658 m). The land is mainly formed of flat to undulating plains with some hills and low mountains. The Niger River flows to the northeast of the country.

 

CLIMATE:- Mostly tropical climate reigns in the country. The southern part is hot, and humid, while the northern part is semiarid. It has two rainy seasons (April-July and September-November), though it has a very little annual rainfall. Hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind affects the land in the winter.

 

GOVERNMENT:- Benin is a republic. It has a Multi-party democracy. The constitution was adopted on 2nd December, 1990 by a referendum. The legal system is based on the French civil law and customary law. The three main government branches are:

Executive branch comprises President (head of government, the chief of state), cabinet. Council oh ministers are appointed by the President.

Legislative branch comprises the unicameral National Assembly (83 seats).

Judicial branch comprises the Constitutional Court, Supreme Court, and High Court of Justice.

The major political parties include La Renaissance du Bénin, Party of Democratic Renewal, Social-Democrat Party, African Movement for Development and Progress, Party of Democratic Renewal-Rainbow, Alliance Etoile, Action Front for Democratic Renewal, African Congress for Renewal, Impulse for Progress and Democracy. Suffrage is universal at the age of 18.

President Yayi Boni

 

ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:- Benin is divided into 12 departments:

Alibori

Atakora

Atlantique

Borgou

Collines

Donga

Kouffo

Littoral

Mono

Ouémé

Plateau

Zou

These departments are further subdivided into 77 communes.

 

CULTURE:- Vodun is presumed to be originated in Benin. It is officially recognized Beninois religion since 1992. 10th January is celebrated as the Vodun Holiday. Many babies in the southern region of the country have their names according to the respective days of their birth. Twins are considered as special in Benin. Beninois singer Angelique Kidjo is a 5 time Grammy nominee.

 

ECONOMY:- Benin has an underdeveloped economy.

GDP/PPP (2005 est.): $8.669 billion; per capita $1,100.

Real growth rate: 3.9%.

Inflation: 3.2%.

Unemployment: n.a.

Arable land: 25.53%.

Agriculture: cotton, corn, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts; livestock. Labor force: n.a.

Industries: textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement.

Natural resources: small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber.

Exports - partners: China 20.9%, Indonesia 7.7%, India 7%, Netherlands 6.2%, Niger 5.7%, Togo 4.6%, Nigeria 4.3% (2006)

Exports: $826.9 million f.o.b. (2005 est.): cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa.

Imports - partners: China 46.6%, France 7.5%, Thailand 6% (2006)

Imports: $1.043 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products.

Major trading partners: China, India, Ghana, Niger, Indonesia, Nigeria, France, Thailand, Côte d\'Ivoire (2004).

Budget:  

Revenues: $959.2 million

Expenditures: $1.211 billion (2007 est.)

Debt - external: $1.2 billion (2007)

Monetary unit: CFA Franc

 

LANGUAGE:- French is the official language. Fon and Yoruba are the most common dialects in the south. Among the tribal languages at least six major languages are used in the north.

 

CITIES:- Porto-Novo is the capital city. The Largest city and seat of government: is Cotonou. Other large cities are Parakou, Djougou.

 

POPULATION:- The estimated population of the country is 8,294,941 with a growth rate of 2.6%.

Density per sq mi: 75

Literacy rate: 41% (2000)

 

RACE:-

Fon and related 39.2%

Adja and related 15.2%

Yoruba and related 12.3%

Bariba and related 9.2%

Peulh and related 7%

Ottamari and related 6.1%

Yoa-Lokpa and related 4%

Dendi and related 2.5%

Other 1.6% (includes Europeans)

Unspecified 2.9% (2002 census)

 

RELIGION:-

Christian 42.8% (Catholic 27.1%, Celestial 5%, Methodist 3.2%, other Protestant 2.2%, other 5.3%)

Muslim 24.4%

Vodoun 17.3%

Other 15.5% (2002 census)

 

HEALTH:-

Birth rate: 37.36 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate: 11.67 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate: total: 76.19 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 53.85 years

Total fertility rate: 4.96 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: 5,800 (2003 est.)

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2005): 46

 

UNICEF:- UNICEF has introduced Accelerated Child Survival and Development Strategy to reduce child mortality. UNICEF has made 90% pregnant women free of HIV, malaria and other diseases and provides mosquito net to over two thirds of pregnant women and children to lessen malaria. Polio or guinea cases are almost extinct. To fight against HIV, 40 medical centres are equipped to provide free anti-retroviral treatment to more than 4000 HIV/AIDS victims. Enrolment in primary schools is very high for the past few years. The project ‘All Girls to School’ has been undertaken to campaigning girl’s enrolment in school. 1000 older girls are keeping their eyes to 2500 younger girls in 122 schools. Over 2000 teachers are being trained on life skill education, HIV/AIDS, gender equality and children rights. To broaden literacy rate, the government has taken responsibility to pay salary to the community teachers and has eliminated school fees. UNICEF provides sanitation to 10,500 Togolese refugees. Angelique Kidjo is an international goodwill ambassador for UNICEF.



TRANSPORTATION:-

Railways: total: 578 km (2004).

Highways: total: 6,787 km (1999 est.).

Waterways: 150 km (2004).

Ports and harbors: Cotonou.

Airports: 5 (2004 est.).

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