Benin

Benin, officially the Republic of Benin is a country located in Africa. It borders the countries of Togo, Nigeria, Burkina Faso and Niger.
==History==
===Pre-Cold War===
Benin was formerly known as the Kingdom of Dahomey. In 1894, France fought a war against Dahomey and took over the kingdom, making it one of it's oversea colonies, known as the French Dahomey.
===Cold War and the Third World War===
thumb|250px|Beninese artwork from the Kérékou's eraIn 1958, France granted autonomy to the Republic of Dahomey, and full independence on 1 August 1960. On 26 October 1972, the Armed Forces led by Commander Mathieu Kérékou overthrew the government in a coup d'état, causing the development of a Marxism–Leninist government, which grew closer to the Soviet Union and countries such as Cuba, East Germany or North Korea. The now-president Kérékou commited many human rights violations, and would condemn and sometimes execute various representatives of the former political regime. The government also pursued an anti-religious policy, eradicating the traditional African beliefs of the people in Benin, including outlawing the religion of Vodun.
In 1977 a coup was made in an attempt to overthrow the new government, but it failed, and the regime only tightened. However, much like other Communist states, the People's Republic of Benin wasn't build to last, as by the 1980s, it's economic situation became increasingly critical. It wasn't however until the Third World War when President Kérékou snapped. At first, he agreed to aid the Communist countries just like all the other African leaders of Marxist-Leninist states, but the moment he saw NATO retaliation, he decided it's time to step down before things get too heated.
In 1990, just days after the Americans re-took their country from Soviet occupation Kérékou released an official statement announcing the abandonment of Marxism–Leninism, the liquidation of the Political Bureau, and the closure of the party's central committee, much to the rejoicing of Benin's citizens. A new constitution was adopted by referendum in December 1990, and the country became known as the Republic of Benin. As for Kérékou? He became a born-again Christian. Truly filled with ironic snickers is the world of politics.
Category:Countries Category:Former Communist Countries