1996 Beninese presidential election

1996 Beninese presidential election
← 1991 3 March 1996 (first round)
18 March 1996 (second round)		 2001 →
 
Candidate Mathieu Kérékou Nicéphore Soglo
Party Independent Benin Rebirth Party
Popular vote 999,453 904,626
Percentage 52.49% 47.51%
President before election

Nicéphore Soglo
UTRD

Elected President

Mathieu Kérékou
Independent

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Presidential elections were held in Benin in March 1996. The first round, held on 3 March, saw no candidate gain over 50% of the vote, resulting in a second round held on 18 March. Mathieu Kérékou, a former military dictator who had come second in the first round, was victorious in the second round, beating incumbent Nicéphore Soglo, after gaining the backing of the third- and fourth-placed candidates.[1] Kérékou received very strong support from northern voters,[2] but he also improved his performance in the south compared to the 1991 election.[1]

Soglo alleged fraud, but this was rejected by the Constitutional Court (who had annulled 22% of the votes in the first round),[3] which confirmed Kérékou's victory.[4] Voter turnout was 88% in the first round and 78% in the second round.[3]

  1. ^ a b Kunle Amuwo, "The State and the Politics of Democratic Consolidation in Benin, 1990–1999", in Political Liberalization and Democratization in Africa (2003), ed. Ihonvbere and Mbaku.
  2. ^ "World News Briefs; Benin Presidential Vote Heads for a Runoff". The New York Times. 6 March 1996. p. 5. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  3. ^ a b Dieter Nohlen, Michael Krennerich & Bernhard Thibaut (1999) Elections in Africa: A data handbook, p95 ISBN 0-19-829645-2
  4. ^ Benin, Year in Review: 1996 Britannica