Foreign relations of Benin

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Politics of Benin
Constitution Human rights
Government President (List) Patrice Talon Vice President Mariam Chabi Talata Cabinet of Benin
Parliament National Assembly President: Louis Vlavonou
Administrative divisions Departments Communes Arrondissements
Elections Recent elections Presidential: 2016 2021 Parliamentary: 2019 2023 Political parties
Foreign relations Ministry of Foreign Affairs and African Integration Minister: Aurélien Agbénonci Diplomatic missions of / in Benin Passport Visa requirements Visa policy
Africa portal Other countries
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After seizing power in the 1972 coup d'état, Major Mathieu Kérékou declared the People's Republic of Benin a Marxist-Leninist state and sought financial support from communist governments in Eastern Europe and Asia. To distance the modern state from its colonial past, the country became the People's Republic of Benin in 1975. However, Benin dropped the socialist ideology in 1989 following pressure from creditors and domestic unrest related to economic hardship.

In recent years Benin has strengthened ties with France, the former colonial power, as well as the United States and the main international lending institutions. Benin has also adopted a mediating role in the political crises in Liberia, Guinea-Bissau, and Togo and provided a contribution to the United Nations force in Haiti, all of which were indications of the country's growing confidence in the international community. Some of the allies of Benin are France, India, US, UK, Netherlands, Ghana, and China.