First Lady of Benin ( French: ''Première Dame de la République de Bénin'') is the title attributed to the wife of the

President of Benin The president of Benin () is both head of state and head of government in Benin. The Cabinet of Benin is under the authority of the President, and serves to advise and help formulate strategies. It also liaises with ministries and other governme ...

Claudine Talon Claudine Gbènagnon Talon (born 1957) is a Beninese public figure, politician, and First Lady of Benin since 6 April 2016, as the wife of Patrice Talon, the President of the Republic of Benin. Biography Talon was born Claudine Gbènagnon in 1957 ...

, wife of

Patrice Talon Patrice Guillaume Athanase Talon (born 1 May 1958) is a Beninese politician and businessman who has been President of Benin since 6 April 2016. Early life and career Talon is of Fon origin and was born in Ouidah. He descends from slave trader ...

, became first lady on her husband's election as president on April 6, 2016. There had been no "first gentleman", or its equivalent, .

History and role

Prior to 1975, when the country's name was changed from the

Republic of Dahomey The Republic of Dahomey (french: République du Dahomey; ), simply known as Dahomey, was established on 4 December 1958, as a self-governing colony within the French Community. Prior to attaining autonomy, it had been French Dahomey, part of ...

Benin Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east, Burkina Faso to the north ...

, the holder of the position was known as the First Lady of Dahomey or wife of the president of Dahomey. Under the

Constitution of Benin The Constitution of Benin was adopted by referendum on 23 December 1956. The constitution is made up of a preamble, twelve titles, and 160 articles. Preamble (Preamble text comes from thEnglish translationof the Beninese Constitution via the Const ...

, adopted at the National Conference in

Cotonou Cotonou (; fon, Kútɔ̀nú) is a city in Benin. Its official population count was 679,012 inhabitants in 2012; however, over two million people live in the larger urban area. The urban area continues to expand, notably toward the west. The ci ...

in February 1990, the first lady has no set, official role in government. According to Dodji Amouzouvi, a sociologist and political scientist, "Benin has not yet constitutionalized the role of First Lady. No text yet clearly defines the powers they must have." Instead, a set of

customs Customs is an authority or agency in a country responsible for collecting tariffs and for controlling the flow of goods, including animals, transports, personal effects, and hazardous items, into and out of a country. Traditionally, customs ...

protocol Protocol may refer to: Sociology and politics * Protocol (politics), a formal agreement between nation states * Protocol (diplomacy), the etiquette of diplomacy and affairs of state * Etiquette, a code of personal behavior Science and technology ...

s, and norms govern the roles and responsibilities of Benin's first ladies. Though the role is not recognized in Beninese law, the first lady has diplomatic, social and political obligations within Beninese politics and society. The first lady often focuses on issues related to socio-economic, education, and healthcare. She will accompany the president on domestic and international trips. First ladies since Benin's transition from dictatorship to a

multi-party system In political science, a multi-party system is a political system in which multiple political parties across the political spectrum run for national elections, and all have the capacity to gain control of government offices, separately or in coal ...

are: Rosine Vieyra Soglo (1991–1996)
Marguerite Kérékou
(1996–2006),

Chantal Yayi Chantal de Souza Yayi (born ?) is a Beninese politician and former First Lady of Benin from 2006 until 2016. She is the wife of former President of Benin, Beninese President Thomas Boni Yayi. Biography Chantal de Souza Yayi, a native of Ouidah, ...

(2006–2016), and Claudine Talon (since 2016). The modern Beninese first ladies have entered politics and other arenas. For example, in 1992 then-First Lady Rosine Vieyra Soglo founded the

Benin Rebirth Party The Benin Rebirth Party (french: Parti de la renaissance du Bénin) is a liberal political party in Benin. The party was founded on 24 March 1992 by then- First Lady Rosine Vieyra Soglo, who became the first Beninese woman to establish a new polit ...

(RB) to help garner political support for her husband and his political goals, becoming the first Beninese woman to establish a political party. Vieyra Soglo's successor (and predecessor), Marguerite Kérékou, had a lower profile, but remained a confidante and advisor to her husband, President

Mathieu Kérékou Mathieu Kérékou (; 2 September 1933 – 14 October 2015) was a Beninese politician who served as President of Benin from 1972 to 1991 and again from 1996 to 2006. After seizing power in a military coup, he ruled the country for 19 years, for ...

. Chantal Yayi, first lady from 2006 to 2016, assisted her older brother, Marcel de Souza, with the creation of a new party.

First Ladies of Benin

References

{{First Ladies and Gentlemen *