CHAPTER TWO: HISTORICAL CONTEXT AND CURRENT CHALLENGES __________________________________________________________________________ 1977 (16 January) Air attack on Cotonou Airport by a group of mercenaries (which included Bob Denard). 1977 (26 August) Adoption of the fundamental law (constitution). 1979 (November) Legislative elections; strong majority in favour of the candidates of the ruling party. 1980 (6 February) The revolutionary assembly elects Mathieu Kérékou as president of the republic. 1984 (31 August) Re-election of Mathieu Kérékou. 1987 Economic crisis, student unrests and protests by the army. 1988 (March-June) Two military plots are foiled. 1988 (September) Setting up of a state security court. 1989 (2 August) Re-election of Mathieu Kérékou. 1989 (November) General strike. 1989 (December) Benin abandons its Marxist-Leninist ideology. 1990 (February) The constitution is suspended. 1990 (19-28 February) The National Sovereign Conference in Cotonou (493 delegates) lays down the principles of the future constitution. 1990 (9 March) Setting up of the HCR, which includes four former presidents: Hubert Maga, Justin Ahomadegbé, Emile Derlin Zinsou and Tahirou Congacou. The HCR holds legislative power. 1990 (12 March) The HCR appoints Nicéphore Soglo as prime minister. 1990 (2 December) Adoption, by referendum, of the draft constitution instituting a presidential regime and multiparty system. 1991 (2 February) Legislative elections. 1991 (24 March) Nicéphore Soglo is elected president of the republic. 1993 (7 June) Setting up of the Constitutional Court. 1995 (28 March) Legislative elections; victory of Nicéphore Soglo’s opponents (Democratic Renewal Party – PRD). 1995 (November) Military arrests; rumours of an attempted coup d’état. 1996 (3/18 March) Presidential election; General Mathieu Kérékou is elected with 52.49% of the votes. Nicéphore Soglo is defeated. 1996 (9 April) Formation of the government, comprising 18 members from different political groups; Adrien Houngbédji is appointed prime minister (a post not provided for in the constitution). 1998 (8 May) Resignation of Prime Minister Adrien Houngbédji and the other three ministers from his party, the PRD. 1998 (15 May) Formation of the second Kérékou government composed of 18 ministers, 13 of whom were not part of the previous team. There are four women in the government, but no prime minister. 1998 (7 June) Installation of the new constitutional court by the head of state. 1999 (30 March) Legislative elections; the opposition wins 42 seats out of 83. 1999 (22 June) Mathieu Kérékou forms a new government. 49