Benin (Soviet Dominance)

Benin, otherwise known as the People's Republic of Benin (République populaire du Bénin) is a Marxist state in western Africa. It borders Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, and Togo.

Colonial Benin
By the middle of the nineteenth century, the Beninese predecessor of Dahomey had started to fall from its status as a regional power. In 1892, the French took over the area, and in 1899 it was incorporated into French West Africa. In 1960, the nation gained full independence under president Hubert Maga.

Pre-Marxism
For the next twelve years, ethnic strife was large in the country, however the economy was very turbulent. Numerous coups and regime changes occurred, with four people leading the nation before 1972. On October 26, 1972, Marxist Mathieu Kérékou launched a coup against the nation and later took power.

Post-coup
Nothing much happened in Benin until 1979; then Kérékou arranged phony elections with himself as the only candidate. He put nearly all businesses and economic activities under state control, causing foreign investment to dry up. His regime did establish good relations with China, Korea, and Libya, though. His regime only managed to stay afloat due to taking nuclear waste from the Soviet Union and France.

Modern-day Benin
Mathieu Kérékou died of unknown causes in October 2015; during this time a crisis occurred as no leader has currently been confirmed by the nation and it has been falling into anarchy. Thomas Sankara, the Burkinabe dictator, has claimed authority over the region until another leader takes it. He has struck a deal with former political opponent Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo in which he takes control over Benin as long as the nation maintains friendly ties with Burkina Faso, but no response has been given as of now.

Government
As of now, Benin is essentially an anarchic state with no leader due to the Benin crisis. Law and order doesn't have much of an effect, the nation is slowly falling into the hands of criminals; this can only be solved if a new leader is elected. Before that, though, Benin was a "democracy" which had elections; albeit with only one candidate.