1972 Dahomeyan coup d'état

1972 Dahomeyan coup d'état
Part of the Cold War
Date26 October 1972
Location6°29′50″N 2°36′18″E / 6.49722°N 2.60500°E / 6.49722; 2.60500
Result

Coup attempt successful with minimum disruption

Belligerents

Government of the Republic of Dahomey

Army faction

Commanders and leaders
Hubert Maga
Justin Ahomadégbé-Tomêtin
Sourou-Migan Apithy
Mathieu Kérékou
Casualties and losses
No casualties reported.
Nexus of coup in Porto-Novo (marked green), Republic of Dahomey

The 1972 Dahomeyan coup d'état was a military coup staged on 26 October 1972 by Major (later General) Mathieu Kérékou, who took control of the Republic of Dahomey and ended a system of government established following the annulled 1970 presidential election, in which three members of the Presidential Council (Hubert Maga, Justin Ahomadégbé-Tomêtin and Sourou-Migan Apithy) were to rotate in power. Ahomadégbé-Tomêtin served as the Chairman at the time of the coup.