Christophe Soglo

Christophe Soglo
President of Dahomey
In office
28 October 1963 – 25 January 1964
Preceded by Hubert Maga
Succeeded by Sourou-Migan Apithy
President of Dahomey
In office
22 December 1965 – 19 December 1967
Preceded by Tahirou Congacou
Succeeded by Jean-Baptiste Hachème
Personal details
Born (1909-06-28)28 June 1909
Abomey, Dahomey
Died 7 October 1983(1983-10-07) (aged 74)
Profession military officer

Christophe Soglo (28 June 1909 – 7 October 1983) was a Beninese military officer and political leader and one of the most important figures in Benin's period of political instability and frequent, though usually bloodless, coups during the 1960s.

Biography

Soglo served in the French army in Indonesia. He had a French wife.[1] After Benin achieved independence in 1960, Soglo was given the rank of colonel in the army and became the chief of staff under President Hubert Maga. On October 28, 1963, Soglo took control of the country to prevent a civil war.[2] Soglo had previously declared loyalty to Maga's government. He established a provisional government with himself as chairman after dissolving the national assembly.[3] After reorganizing the government, he gave up power in January 1964 and allowed former premier Sourou-Migan Apithy to become president. Soon Apithy and other political leaders began massive feuds over policies. After repeatedly encouraging the various political forces to agree to dialogue, Soglo again overthrew the government in November 1965 and served as President of Benin under a military government until December 1967, when a group of younger army officers overthrew him. Soglo then retired from politics.

Citations

  1. ↑ Garrison, Lloyd (January 8, 1966). "Land of the Coups: It's Proving So Painlessly Easy in Africa". The Ottawa Journal. p. 22.
  2. ↑ Matthews 1966, p. 152.
  3. ↑ "Maga Overthrown by Army Chieftain". The Lincoln Star. Associated Press. October 29, 1963. p. 1.

References

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