It may be recalled that Benin Porto Novo, former Dahomey, is perhaps the "most beaten track by Europeans of any Africa". The history of Benin PORTO NOVO start In 1704, France received permission to erect a port at Ouidah, and in 1752 the Portuguese founded Porto Novo. On June 22, 1894, the territory was named by decree the "Colony of Dahomey and its dependences" and was granted autonomy which it retained until October 18, 1904 when it became part of French West Africa. On December 4, 1958 the Republic was proclaimed. Dahomey became independent on August 1, 1960 and is a UN member country.
If the first independent Government was ousted by a military coup on October 28, 1963, Dahomey, during the ensuing years up to 1972, went through a lot of political upheavals that always climaxed in military coups. That of October 26, 1972 was the starting point of a 17-year regime which three years later went red with a Marxist Leninist ideology. In other words, on November 30, 1975 Dahomey was under a centrally controlled government and eventually became the People's Republic of Benin. At the National Conference held in Cotonou (February 19-28, 1990) and at which all walks of life were represented, fundamental decisions were taken, namely:
- abolition of Marxist ideology as the State philosophy.
- the reversion to the genuine flag.
- the reversion to the multi party system.
- the dissolution of all one-party structures.
- the release of all political detainees and prisoners.
- the respect of all Human Rights.
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