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___ BeninA virtual guide to Benin. This page aims to give you a broad overview of Benin's art, culture, people, environment, geography, history, economy and government.Beside a country profile with facts and figures, the page contains links to sources which provide you with all the information you need to know about this African nation, e.g.: official web sites of Benin, addresses of Benin and foreign embassies, domestic airlines, city- and country guides with extensive travel and tourism information on accommodation, tourist attractions, events and more like weather information, maps, statistics and local newspapers from Benin. |
 In front of Presidential Palais © ambassade-benin |
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Republic of Benin | Republique du Bénin |
Country Profile |
 Flag of Benin Background: Present day Benin was the site of Dahomey, a prominent West African kingdom that rose in the 15th century. The territory became a French Colony in 1872 and achieved independence on 1 August 1960, as the Republic of Benin. A succession of military governments ended in 1972 with the rise to power of Mathieu KEREKOU and the establishment of a government based on Marxist-Leninist principles. A move to representative government began in 1989. Two years later, free elections ushered in former Prime Minister Nicephore SOGLO as president, marking the first successful transfer of power in Africa from a dictatorship to a democracy. KEREKOU was returned to power by elections held in 1996 and 2001, though some irregularities were alleged. border countries: Togo, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria related countries: France, Haiti (Most Haitians trace their ancestry to Benin.) |
 Official Name: Republique du Bénin short form: Bénin int'l long form: Republic of Benin int'l short form: Benin formerly: Dahomey ISO Country Code: bj Time: Local Time = UTC +1h Actual Time: Sat-July-4 04:09 Capital City: Porto-Novo (pop. 295 000) Political and economic capital: Cotonou (pop. 2 million) Other Cities: Abomey, Gavié, Kandi, Ouidah Government: Type: Republic under multiparty democratic rule. Independence: 1 August 1960 (fom France). Constitution: 10 December 1990. Geography: Location: Western Africa Area: 115 828 sq. km. (44 721 sq. mi.). Terrain: Mostly flat plains of 200 meters average elevation, but the Atacora Mountains with the highest points being Mont Sokbaro 658 m, Mont Tanekas 641 m. Climate: Tropical, average temperatures between 24 and 31 C. Humid in south; semiarid in north. People: Nationality: Beninese Population: 7 million. Ethnic groups: 42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon, Adja, Yoruba, and Bariba. Religions: Indigenous beliefs (animist) 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20%. Languages: French (official), Fon and Yoruba in the south; Nagot, Bariba and Dendi in the north. Literacy: Total population 39%; men 53%, women 25%. Natural resources: Small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber. Agriculture products: Cotton, corn, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts, livestock (2001) Industries: Textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement (2001) Exports partners: China 28.7%, India 18.4%, Ghana 6.3%, Thailand 6%, Niger 5.8%, Indonesia 4.2%, Nigeria 4.2% (2004) Imports partners: China 32.2%, France 13%, Thailand 6.7%, Cote d'Ivoire 5.3% (2004) Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF) |
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Note: External links will open in a new browser window. Official Sites of BeninGouvernement de la République du BéninThe official government of Benin portal site. Assemblée nationale du Bénin Site of the National Parliament of Benin. Diplomatic Missions Ambassade du Bénin en France Beninese embassy in France (in French). List of Benin Embassies abroad Adress list of Benin's Diplomatic Missions abroad. Maps Map of Benin Political map of Benin.  Google
Earth BeninZoomable satellite view of Benin. Google
Earth Porto-NovoZoomable satellite view of Benin's capital city. Map
of AfricaPolitical Map of Africa.  Street Scene Cotonou © ambassade-benin.org |
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NewsLa MontagneRecent news from Benin (in French) L'araignée News and cyber portal site (in French) BeninInfo Benin community website with recent news (in French) |
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Arts & CultureAbomey Historical MuseumCreated by the French colonial administration in 1943, situated on the palatial site and comprises the palaces of King Guézo and King Glèlè. Music Angélique Kidjo SIte about the Benin born singer. |
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Business & EconomyCentral Bank of West African States (BCEAO)Central Bank of Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Togo. Union Économique et Monétaire Ouest Africaine (UEMOA) West African Economic and Monetary Union (in French) IZF.net, le portail de la Zone Franc CFA Information about business and investment in the African countries within the monetary system of the Franc Zone - CFA. (in French) Benin Chamber of Commerce and Industry Provides information about the chamber and business and investment in Benin. |
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Destination Benin - Travel and Tour GuidesDiscover Benin: Ganvie, Ouidah, Cotonou, Abomey, Parakou, Port-Novo, Natitingou, Pendjari National Park.Links to accommodation, hotels, attractions, festivals, events, tourist boards, tours and much more. Discover Benin Official website of tourism in Benin with extensive information about the country. Being In Benin Some information on the People's Republic of Benin. Benin Guide Martine's travel guide to Benin. Destination: Benin A Voyage to the Source, Benin seen through the eyes of a Haitian. Fon is Fun! Discover Benin (A Five Episode Documentary) includes also Fon language greetings, basic phrases and vocabulary. Mon Voyage au Benin et au Togo Private site about travelling Benin and Togo with photos (in French). |
 Ouidah, Tata Sombe © ambassade-benin |
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EducationEcole du Patrimoine AfricainSchool of African Heritage, an institution for vocational training in heritage conservation in Benin. |
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EnvironmentL'Organisation Béninoise pour la Promotion de l'Agriculture Biologique OBEPABBeninois Organisation for the Promotion of Organic Agriculture (in French) Atlas of natural and agronomic resources of Niger and Benin The "Atlas of Natural and Agronomic Resources of Niger and Benin" wants to summarise spatial data related to these subjects collected within the successful 15 years lasting Special Research Programme. |
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HistoryArchives Nationale du BeninThe not well maintained page provides some general informations on Benin and offers collections, publications and some photos. (in French) Benin History History timeline from the Benin's governmnt site. History of Benin Benin's history from Pre-Colonial (1600-1900) time until today. La route de l'esclave - The Slave Route An UNESCO documentation about four centuries of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. (pdf format) |
 "Door Of No Return", a memorial to slavery at the beach of Ouidah, one of the large slave-trade ports in Africa, a main departure point for those sold into slavery between the 15th and 19th centuries. |
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SearchBeninensisIndex of Benin related internet resouces. Additional Information on BeninAfrica South of the Sahara: BeninStanford University. BBC News Country Profile: Benin Governments on the WWW: Benin Index on Africa: Benin MBendi Profile: Benin Including economic overviews and directories of companies. Open Directory Project: Benin Wikipedia: Benin The World Factbook -- Benin |
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| The Benin page was last modified on: Friday, 03-Apr-2009 09:08:48 CEST |
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