Mathieu Kérékou
Mathieu Kérékou | |
|---|---|
Kérékou in 2006 | |
| President of Benin | |
| In office 4 April 1996 – 6 April 2006 | |
| Prime Minister | Adrien Houngbédji |
| Preceded by | Nicéphore Soglo |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Boni Yayi |
| In office 26 October 1972 – 4 April 1991 | |
| Prime Minister | Nicéphore Soglo |
| Preceded by | Justin Ahomadégbé-Tomêtin |
| Succeeded by | Nicéphore Soglo |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 2 September 1933 Kouarfa, French Dahomey |
| Died | 14 October 2015 (aged 82) Cotonou, Benin |
| Political party | Action Front for Renewal and Development |
| Other political affiliations | People's Revolutionary Party of Benin (1975–1990) |
| Spouse(s) | Symphorose Béatrice Lakoussan (divorced) Marguerite Kérékou |
| Signature | |
Mathieu Kérékou (French pronunciation: [ma.tjø ke.ʁe.ku]; 2 September 1933 – 14 October 2015) was a Beninese politician who served as president of the People's Republic of Benin from 1972 to 1991 and the Republic of Benin from 1996 to 2006.
After seizing power in a military coup, he ruled the country for 18 years under an officially Marxist–Leninist ideology, before he was stripped of his powers by the National Conference of 1990. He was defeated in the 1991 presidential election but was returned to the presidency in the 1996 election and controversially re-elected in 2001.