CHAPTER TWO: HISTORICAL CONTEXT AND CURRENT CHALLENGES __________________________________________________________________________ 67. Aged 73 and 72 years respectively in 2006, the outgoing head of state, Mathieu Kérékou, and his great rival Nicéphore Soglo had already exceeded the age limit of 70 years set by the constitution to stand for election. The fourth presidential ballot since the advent of democracy and multiparty politics in 1990 was won, in the second round, by Thomas Boni Yayi with a vast majority. He obtained 74.52% of the votes cast. Box 2.1: Chronology of the main political events in Benin 1960 (1 August) Independence of the Republic of Dahomey; Hubert Maga is elected the first president of Dahomey on 26 July 1960 and proclaims the independence of Dahomey on 1 August. 1960 (25 November) Adoption of the constitution. 1960 (11 December) Legislative elections; victory of the Dahomey Unity Party (PDU); amalgamation of Sourou Migan Apithy’s Dahomey Nationalist Party (PND) and Hubert Maga’s Dahomey Democratic Rally (RDD). 1963 (October) Strikes and protests. 1963 (28 October) Hubert Maga is removed from office; power goes to Colonel Christophe Soglo. 1963 (December) The army hands over power to Apithy, who becomes president of the republic; Justin Ahomadegbé becomes prime minister and vice president. 1964 (5 January) Adoption of the new constitution by referendum. 1965 (29 November) On 27 November, the Dahomey Democratic Party (PDD), which is the party in power, relieves Apithy of his duties and appoints Ahomadegbé as head of state. On 29 November, Christophe Soglo puts an end to the institutional freeze by forcing Apithy and Ahomadegbé to resign. The formation of a new government is entrusted to the president of the National Assembly, Tahirou Congacou. 1965 (22 December) Coup d’état led by Christophe Soglo, the army chief of staff. 1967 (17 December) Military coup d’état led by Commander Kouandété, who hands power over to Lieutenant Colonel Alphonse Alley. 1968 (26 June) Following the boycott of the elections, the Revolutionary Military Committee (CMR) swears Dr Emile Derlin Zinsou into power. 1969 (10 December) Coup d’état led by Maurice Kouandété, Sinzogan and Paul Emile de Souza; a military council appoints De Souza as head of state. 1970 (7 May) Lieutenant Colonel de Souza hands over to a civilian government. Maga is appointed head of a troika, which includes Apithy and Ahomadegbé. It is envisaged that power will be rotated every two years. Maga inaugurates the system for two years, and is followed by Ahomadegbé. 1972 (26 October) A new military coup d’état brings Major Mathieu Kérékou to power. 1973 (December) Creation of the National Revolutionary Council (CNR). 1974 (30 November) Official declaration of adherence to a Marxist-Leninist ideology. 1975 (30 November) Proclamation of the People’s Republic of Benin; institution of a single party, the PRPB. 48