# Mathieu Kérékou

_Politician (1933-2015)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/mathieu-kerekou
Last updated: 2026-11-01

> Mathieu Kérékou (French pronunciation: [ma.tjø ke.ʁe.ku]; 2 September 1933 – 14 October 2015) was a Beninese politician and revolutionary who served as president of the People's Republic of Benin from 1972 to 1991 and the Republic of Benin from 1996 to 2006.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 2 September 1933 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q206719#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Kouarfa ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q206719#P19))
- **Died:** 14 October 2015 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q206719#P570))
- **Place of death:** Cotonou ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q206719#P20))
- **Citizenship:** Benin ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q206719#P27))
- **Occupation:** politician; military personnel; statesperson ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q206719#P106))
- **Political party:** People's Revolutionary Party of Benin ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q206719#P102))
- **Spouse:** Marguerite Kérékou; Béatrice Lakoussan ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q206719#P26))
- **Positions held:** President of the Republic of Benin (4 April 1996 – 5 April 2006); Chairperson of ECOWAS (1981–1982); President of the Republic of Benin (4 April 1980 – 4 April 1991); president (30 November 1975 – 4 April 1980); President of Dahomey (26 October 1972 – 30 November 1975); president ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q206719#P39))
- **Awards:** Order of Merit of Benin ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q206719#P166))

## About

After seizing power in a military coup, he ruled the country for 18 years under an officially Marxist–Leninist ideology, before he was stripped of his powers by the National Conference of 1990. He was defeated in the 1991 presidential election but was returned to the presidency in the 1996 election and controversially re-elected in 2001.

## Questions

**When was Mathieu Kérékou born?**  
Mathieu Kérékou was born on 2 September 1933 in Kouarfa.

**What positions has Mathieu Kérékou held?**  
Positions held by Mathieu Kérékou include: President of the Republic of Benin (1996–2006); Chairperson of ECOWAS (1981–1982); President of the Republic of Benin (1980–1991); president (1975–1980); President of Dahomey (1972–1975).

## Related

- [Thomas Boni Yayi](https://diginpl.com/people/thomas-boni-yayi)
- [Nicéphore Soglo](https://diginpl.com/people/nicephore-soglo)
- [Patrice Talon](https://diginpl.com/people/patrice-talon)
- [Romuald Wadagni](https://diginpl.com/people/romuald-wadagni)
- [Julius Maada Bio](https://diginpl.com/people/julius-maada-bio)
- [Siaka Stevens](https://diginpl.com/people/siaka-stevens)
- [John Mahama](https://diginpl.com/people/john-mahama)
- [Ahmed Sékou Touré](https://diginpl.com/people/ahmed-sekou-toure)
- [Jerry Rawlings](https://diginpl.com/people/jerry-rawlings)
- [John Kufuor](https://diginpl.com/people/john-kufuor)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Mathieu Kérékou](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathieu_K%C3%A9r%C3%A9kou) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q206719](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q206719) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Mathieu Kérékou 2006Feb10.JPG by Ricardo Stuckert/ABr (CC BY 3.0 br)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mathieu_K%C3%A9r%C3%A9kou_2006Feb10.JPG)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Mathieu Kérékou, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Mathieu Kérékou 2006Feb10.JPG — Ricardo Stuckert/ABr, CC BY 3.0 br.

## Cite this page

"Mathieu Kérékou". DigiNepal. Last updated 1 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/mathieu-kerekou. Retrieved 5 November 2026.