The Dahomeyan Democratic Rally (french: Rassemblement Démocratique Dahoméen, RDD) was a

political party A political party is an organization that coordinates candidates to compete in a particular country's elections. It is common for the members of a party to hold similar ideas about politics, and parties may promote specific political ideology ...

French Dahomey French Dahomey was a French colony and part of French West Africa from 1894 to 1958. After World War II, by the establishment of the French Fourth Republic in 1947, Dahomey became part of the French Union with an increased autonomy. On 4 Octob ...

led by

Hubert Maga Coutoucou Hubert Maga (August 10, 1916 – May 8, 2000) was a politician from Dahomey (now known as Benin).Dahomey was renamed Benin in 1975. Se''New York Times'' obituary He arose on a political scene where one's power was dictated by what regi ...

History

The party was established in August 1957 by a merger of the

Dahomeyan Democratic Movement The Dahomeyan Democratic Movement (french: Mouvement Démocratique Dahoméen, MDD) was a political party in French Dahomey. History The MDD was established in northern Dahomey by Hubert Maga in 1951 as the Ethnic Group of the North (''Groupement ...

led by Maga and the Independents of the North party led by Paul Darboux.Mathurin C Houngnikpo & Samuel Decalo (2012) ''Historical Dictionary of Benin'', Scarecrow Press, p305 However, Darboux left the party shortly after its establishment and refounded his party as the Union of Independents of Dahomey. Like most other parties in Dahomey, it was a regional one and was heavily backed by the northern section of the French colony (particularly among the Bariba) without much support elsewhere. However, it suffered from internal rivalries between factions based in Parakou and

Nikki Nikki may refer to: Arts and entertainment Fictional characters * Nikki (Barbie), a fashion doll in the Barbie toy line * Nikki (comics), a Marvel Comics character * Nikki and Paulo, from the TV series ''Lost'' * Nikki, the mascot of Swapnote * N ...

and conflict between the Bariba and Dendi. In 1958 the party merged with the

Yoruba The Yoruba people (, , ) are a West African ethnic group that mainly inhabit parts of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. The areas of these countries primarily inhabited by Yoruba are often collectively referred to as Yorubaland. The Yoruba constitute ...

-dominated

Republican Party of Dahomey The Republican Party of Dahomey (french: Parti Républicain Dahoméen, PRD) was a political party in French Dahomey led by Sourou-Migan Apithy. History The party was established by Apithy in 1951.Mathurin C Houngnikpo & Samuel Decalo (2012) ''Hi ...

(PRD) led by

Sourou-Migan Apithy Sourou-Migan Marcellin Joseph Apithy (April 8, 1913 – December 3, 1989) was a Beninese political figure most active when his country was known as Dahomey. He arose on a political scene where one's power was dictated by what region in Dahomey o ...

to form the Dahomeyan Progressive Party, which was to be the Dahomeyan branch of the

African Regroupment Party The African Regroupment Party (french: Parti du Regroupement Africain, PRA) was a political party in the French African colonies. Formation The PRA came into being at a meeting in Paris on March 26, 1958, months before the French Community would ...

. However, internal disagreements led to the parties splitting back into their original forms in 1959.Houngnikpo & Decalo, p306 The RDD won 22 seats in the 1959 elections, and in 1960 agreed to merge with the PRD again, this time under the name

Dahomeyan Unity Party The Dahomeyan Unity Party (french: Parti Dahoméen de l'Unité, PDU) was a political party in the Republic of Dahomey. History The party was established on 13 November 1960 by the merger of the Republican Party of Dahomey (PRD) led by Sourou-M ...

. The party was briefly re-established as the Dahomeyan National Union (''Union Nationale Dahoméene'') following a coup by

Christophe Soglo Christophe Soglo (28 June 1909 – 7 October 1983) was a Beninese military officer and political leader. Early life Christophe Soglo was born on 28 June 1909 in Abomey, French Dahomey to a chiefly Fon family. Military career In 1931 Soglo vol ...

in 1965. However, all parties were banned by Soglo in December 1965.

References

Bibliography

* . * . {{Beninese political parties Rassemblement Démocratique Africain Political parties established in 1957 Political parties disestablished in 1958 Political parties established in 1959 Political parties disestablished in 1960 Political parties established in 1965 Political parties disestablished in 1966 Defunct political parties in Benin