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Benin
Porto the capital of Benin
Benin | Flag Benine | Political map of benin
Lands that comprise the present day Benin were once the site of Dahomey, a well-known West African kingdom that came into being in the 15th century and profited a lot from Slave trade Benin was known for in the 17-th and 18-th century. Many monuments bear testimony to the tragic sort of those deported to the West Indies and Brazil. The country came under the rule of the French in 1872 and became a Republic after gaining independence on 1 August 1960. In 1972 Mathieu Kerekou’s rise to power ended a succession of military governments. Kerekou stepped down at the end of his second term in 2006 and was succeeded by Thomas Yayi Boni, an independent candidte.
Benin is bordered to the east by Nigeria, to the north by Niger and Burkina Faso, and to the west by Togo. Benin stretches 700km (435 miles) from the Bight of Benin to the Niger River.
Travel overview
Porto-Novo is the official capital while Cotonou is the seat of government.
Porto-Novo is famous for its royal palace and museums.
Benin has attractions second to none in the tourists’ map. The stilted villages are popular with fishing enthusiasts. The lagoon at the capital city of Porto Novo is famous for as the best stilted fishing area in the Western African nation. Visit the colourful market of Grand Marché de Danktokpa near the Nouveau Pont where you can find things suited to your taste. For wildlife enthusiasts, Parc National de Pendjari offers an exciting range of species. Musee Historique d'Abomey is famous for historical artefacts.
Capital: Porto-Novo
Location: Western Africa,
Climate: tropical; hot, humid in south
Total Area: 112,620 sq km
Total Population: 8,078,314
Population Growth Rate: 2.674%
Sex Ratio: 0.983 male(s)/female
Literacy: 34.7%
Ethnic Groups: Fon, Adja, Yoruba, Bariba, Peulh, Ottamari, Yoa-Lokpa
, Dendi
Irrigated land: 120 sq km
Languages: French, Fon and Yoruba
Time Zone: UTC+1
Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF)
Type of govt.: republic
Head of Govt.: President Thomas YAYI Boni
Major Political Parties: Alliance for Dynamic Democracy or ADD, Alliance
of Progress Forces or AFP, African Movement for Democracy and Progress
or MADEP, Cauri Forces for an Emerging Benin or FCBE, Democratic Renewal
Party or PRD,
Participation in International Organizations: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU,
ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OIF, ONUB, OPCW,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional),
WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Major Agricultural Products: cotton, corn, cassava (tapioca), yams,
beans, palm oil, peanuts, cashews; livestock
Natural Resources & Minerals: small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber
Industry & Transport: textiles, food processing, construction
materials, cement
Airports: 5
Railways: 578 km
Roadways: 16,000 km
Waterways: 150 km
Major Trade Partners: China, Indonesia, India, Niger, Togo, Thailand,
Nigeria, France, Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire, UK, Belgium
Exports: $563.1 million
Imports: $927.3 million
