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People's Revolutionary Party of Benin

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People's Revolutionary Party of Benin
Parti de la révolution populaire du Bénin
AbbreviationPRPB
Governing bodyCentral Committee
FounderMathieu Kérékou
Founded30 November 1975
(50 years, 276 days)
Dissolved30 April 1990
(36 years, 125 days)
Succeeded byUnion of Forces of Progress
HeadquartersPorto-Novo
NewspaperEhuzu
Youth wingOrganisation de la Jeunesse Révolutionnaire du Bénin (French)
Women's wingOrganisation des Femmes Révolutionnaires du Bénin
IdeologyCommunism
Marxism–Leninism[1][2][3]
Beninese nationalism[4][5][6]
Left-wing nationalism[7]
Colors  Red
  Yellow
Party flag

The People's Revolutionary Party of Benin (French: Parti de la Révolution Populaire du Bénin, PRPB) was a socialist[1] political party in the People's Republic of Benin. It was founded in 1975 by Mathieu Kérékou, a General. Under the new constitution of 30 November 1975, the PRPB became the sole legal political party in the country.[8] Ideologically, the party officially adhered to Marxism–Leninism, although it was broadly nationalist in practice.[4][5][6]

History

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In 1972, the former French colony of Republic of Dahomey experienced a military coup d'état, bringing Major Mathieu Kérékou to power. In 1975, Kérékou announced that the country would be renamed Benin and that a new political organisation, the People's Revolutionary Party of Benin would be established to participate in elections.[9] It was subsequently decided that the PRPB would be the sole legal political party, creating a one-party state organised according to communist principles.[10]

In the parliamentary elections of 1979, 1984 and 1989, the PRPB was the only party contesting in the elections. In 1979, the party lists received 1,243,286 votes (97.9%), in 1984, the party received 1,811,208 votes (98.1%) and in 1989, the party received 1,695,860 votes (89.6%).[11][12]

In 1989, following the parliamentary election, the PRPB formally renounced Marxism–Leninism as its official ideological doctrine.[13] The government also repealed the one-party state framework, permitting the formation of new political parties.[14] The PRPB remained the governing force of Benin until 1990.[15] The party subsequently dissolved, and Mathieu Kérékou contested the 1991 Beninese presidential election as an independent candidate rather than under the PRPB label.[16] The PRPB was succeeded by the Union of Forces of Progress.[17]

Electoral history

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Presidential elections

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Election Party candidate Votes % Result Ref.
President elected by the National Revolutionary Assembly
1980 Mathieu Kérékou 336 100% Elected Green tick [18]
1984 196 100% Elected Green tick [18]
1989 206 100% Elected Green tick [18]

National Revolutionary Assembly elections

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Election Party leader Votes % Seats +/– Position Result
1979 Mathieu Kérékou 1,248,613 98.3%
336 / 336
 Increase 336 Increase 1st Sole legal party
1984 1,811,808 98.2%
196 / 196
 Decrease 140 Steady 1st Sole legal party
1989 1,695,860 89.6%
206 / 206
 Increase 10 Steady 1st Sole legal party

See also

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References

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  1. 1 2 Omar Diop, Political parties and democratic transition process in Black Africa, Publibook, 2006, page 33
  2. ↑ "African marxist military regimes, rise and fall: internal conditioners and international dimensions". Archived from the original on 28 October 2020.
  3. ↑ Philippe David, The Benin, Karthala, 1998, page 60
  4. 1 2 Morrison, Nathan (27 August 2008). "A short history of the People's Republic of Benin (1974 - 1990)". Socialist Appeal. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  5. 1 2 Allen, Chris (1992). "'Goodbye to All That': The Short and Sad Story of Socialism in Benin". In Hughes, Arnold (ed.). Marxism's Retreat from Africa. Psychology Press. ISBN 9780714645025.
  6. 1 2 Humphrey, Bill (16 October 2015). "Complicated former longtime president of Benin dies". Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  7. ↑ https://seer.ufrgs.br/index.php/rbea/article/download/97061/58862/446433
  8. ↑ Chronologie BENIN Archived 2007-01-09 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ↑ "Dahomey Announces Its Name Will be Benin". The New York Times. 2 December 1975. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  10. ↑ Nohlen, Dieter (1999). Elections in Africa: A data handbook. Oxford University Press. p. 90. ISBN 0198296452.
  11. ↑ "Benin 1979" (PDF). ipu.org. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  12. ↑ "Benin 1984" (PDF). ipu.org. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  13. ↑ "Dahomey/Benin (1960-present)". UCA. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  14. ↑ "National dialogue: Lessons Uganda can draw from Benin, DR Congo". Monitor. 9 January 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  15. ↑ "Présidentielle 2006 au Bénin". BBCAfrique.com (in French). Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  16. ↑ Noble, Kenneth B. (10 March 1991). "Free Vote in Benin ITS First in Years". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  17. ↑ Lea, David; Rowe, Annamarie (2001). A Political Chronology of Africa. Taylor & Francis. p. 34. ISBN 1857431162.
  18. 1 2 3 Elections in Benin African Elections Database
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