Yearbook 2010
Benin. Like most other former French colonies in Africa,
Benin celebrated its 50th anniversary as an independent
state in 2010. Although Benin has been highlighted in recent
years as something of a regional democratic example, the
celebration was not characterized by any directly veiled
mood. President Boni Yayi said in his solemn speech that the
country is still hindered in its development by its troubled
past, when Benin was plagued by constant military coups for
decades. When 150 political parties want to join and govern
and position the work of public institutions, the president
said, also complaining that corruption is deeply rooted and
that public funds are being squandered.
A few days earlier, more than half of the members of
Parliament had made a request that the president be indicted
for suspected involvement in a fraud involving an insurance
company's investment fund, which must have cheated a large
number of people their savings. Earlier, the President had
dismissed the Minister of the Interior for consultation with
the Fund. However, the President of Parliament rejected the
Members' request on the grounds that the evidence against
the President was insufficient.
In the fall, Benin suffered its worst natural disaster of
100 years when nearly three-quarters of the country was
submerged. Large parts of West Africa were plagued by
floods, but Benin was probably the worst affected. Over
100,000 people became homeless and about 680,000 were
affected in one way or another. About 40 people were said to
have perished. According to
COUNTRYAAH, Benin
has a population of 11.49 million (2018). The UN appealed to the outside world for US $
46.8 million in disaster relief.
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