Profile of Lieutenant Colonel Mathieu Kerekou | President of Republique du Benin | 1972-1977

1972-1977.

Footage of the five-year rule of Lieutenant Colonel Mathieu Kerekou, the President of West African state of Benin Republic.

It shows Kerekou meeting leaders such as General Yakubu Gowon of Nigeria, President Sekou Toure of Guinea-Conakry and Prime Minister Hua Kuo-feng of China.

The then Kerekou came to power in Dahomey on October 26, 1972 after a military coup. The country changed its name to Benin in 1975.

Kerekou quickly declared his country to be a Marxist-Leninist state. He nationalized the banks and the petroleum industry. He also grew close to the People’s Republic of China, North Korea and Libya. Kerekou also recognised Western Sahara as an independent nation.

His challenge to Franceafrique caused ill-feeling in France and the recognition afforded to Western Sahara enraged King Hassan of Morocco.

In January 1977, Kerekou survived an attempt to overthrow him when the notorious French mercenary Bob Denard invaded the country with a force of 80 men known as "Omega". Codenamed "Operation Crevette" (alternatively known as "Operation Shrimp"), the invasion had been sponsored by Morocco and was backed by France whose intelligence services aided the endeavour.

However, after initially taking over Cotonou Airport, Omega Force failed to take the Presidential Quarters (Kerekou was not there) where the Presidential Guard were directed by North Korean advisors. Other units of the Benenois military joined in the fray and Denard and Omega Force withdrew and flew from Cotonou to Franceville, Gabon.

Kerekou survived many plots against his government and his long-term hold on power contrasted with the many successful coups which took place in Dahomey during the 1960s.

He lost an election in 1991 after been pressured into accepting multi-party democracy. He was elected in 2001 but relinquished power in 2006.

He died on October 14th, 2015 at the age of 82.

Adeyinka Makinde.