Dahomeyan Unity Party

The Dahomeyan Unity Party (French: Parti Dahoméen de l'Unité, PDU) was a political party in the Republic of Dahomey.

Dahomeyan Unity Party

Parti Dahoméen de l'Unité
Founded1960
Dissolved1963
Merger ofRepublican Party of Dahomey
Dahomeyan Democratic Rally
National Liberation Movement
HeadquartersPorto-Novo, Dahomey
IdeologyAfrican nationalism
Republicanism
Benin
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History

The party was established in 1960 by the merger of the Republican Party of Dahomey (PRD) led by Sourou-Migan Apithy, the Dahomeyan Democratic Rally (RDD) led by Hubert Maga and the National Liberation Movement (MLN) led by Jean Pliya and Albert Teveodjré.[1] The PRD and the RDD had previously merged in 1958 to form the Dahomeyan Progressive Party, but had split the following year. Chabi Mama became the new party's secretary general.[2]

Changes to the electoral system made by Maga allowed the PDU to win all 60 seats in the Dahomeyan parliamentary election, 1960. The following year, the main opposition party, the Dahomeyan Democratic Union, was banned and its leader Justin Ahomadégbé-Tomêtin imprisoned.[3] As a result, the PDU became the sole legal party in the country.[4]

The party was dissolved in 1963 after Hubert Maga was overthrown in a coup, and a new party, the Dahomeyan Democratic Party was formed by Apithy and Justin Ahomadégbé-Tomêtin.[2]

References
  1. Mathurin C Houngnikpo & Samuel Decalo (2012) Historical Dictionary of Benin, Scarecrow Press, p285
  2. Houngnikpo & Decalo, p283
  3. Dictionary of African Biography, Oxford University Press, p139
  4. Houngnikpo & Decalo, p287
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