Benin

Benin is a country in West Africa. It borders Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east, Burkina Faso to the north-west, and Niger to the north-east. Most of its population lives on the small coast of the Bight of Benin, part of the Gulf of Guinea in the far north of the Atlantic Ocean. The capital of Benin is Porto-Novo, but the seat of government lies in Cotonou, the largest city and commercial capital. Benin covers an area of ​​114,763 square kilometers (44,310 sq mi) and its population in 2018 was estimated at 11.49 million. Benin is a tropical country, dependent on agriculture, and is a major exporter of cotton and palm oil. Major employment and income are from agriculture.

The main language of Benin is French, with many indigenous languages ​​such as Fon, Bariba, Yoruba and Dendi also spoken. The largest religions in Benin are Roman Catholicism, followed by Islam, Vodun (often referred to as Voodoo outside the country) and Protestantism. Benin is a member of the United Nations, African Union, Economic Community of West African States, Organization of Islamic Cooperation, South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation, La Francophonie, Community of the Sahel-Saharan States, African Petroleum Producers Association and Niger Basin Authority.

From the 17th to the 19th centuries, the main political area in the region was the Kingdom of Dahomey, with the city-state of Porto-Novo, and a large area with diversity to the side. north. These areas have been known as the Slave Coast since as early as the 17th century due to the large number of people being kidnapped and taken to the New World during the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. After slavery was abolished, France occupied the country and changed its name to French Dahomey. In 1960, Dahomey gained full independence from France. The sovereign state has had an unequivocal history since then, with numerous democratic governments, military coups, and military regimes. A self-described Marxist-Leninist state called the People's Republic of Benin existed between 1975 and 1990. In 1991, it was replaced by several other republics of Benin.