Tahirou Congacou

Tahirou Congacou (1911 – 15 June 1993)[1][2] was a Beninese politician, most active during the 1960s, when his country was known as Dahomey. He served as President of the National Assembly from 1964 to 1965,[3] and in that capacity served as acting President of Benin from 29 November 1965 to 22 December 1965. He also served as acting foreign minister during 1965.

Tahirou Congacou
President of Dahomey
In office 29 November 1965 – 22 December 1965
Preceded by	Justin Ahomadégbé-Tomêtin
Succeeded by	Christophe Soglo
Personal details
Born	1911 Djougou, Dahomey
Died	15 June 1993 (aged 81–82) Cotonou, Benin

Early political career

Congacou was born to a Dendi family in 1913 and was a descendant of the Djougou royal house.[4][5] His ancestors were oral tradition keepers in the kingdom of Djougou. In colonial Dahomey, Congacou served as a subprefect in Nikki. In the aftermath of World War II, he was a deputy to the General Council of Dahomey. He also served in the Dahomey territorial assembly from 1952 to 1957.[4] When Hubert Maga was deposed in 1963, Congacou was elected head of the National Assembly, as well as assistant secretary general of the Parti Democratique Dahomeen (PDD), the new national party.[4] He served as President of the National Assembly of Dahomey from January 1964 to November 1965.

President of Dahomey

On November 29, 1965, General Christophe Soglo forcibly removed Justin Ahomadégbé-Tomêtin's mandate. He temporarily handed power to Congacou, under the provisions of Articles 17 and 35 of the Dahomeyan constitution.[6] Congacou was charged to form a national coalition to end the regionalism that dominated Dahomeyan politics at the time.[7]

Congacou's government was composed of himself and four technocrats. It disbanded the PDD on December 4 and set free political prisoners. In accordance with Article 7 of the constitution, the regime was forced to hold elections by January 18, 1966.[6]

When the new president failed to do so, Soglo removed Congacou from power on December 22, 1965.[7]

Later life

During the presidency of Emile Derlin Zinsou, Congacou was president of the Social and Economic Council, established in October 1968.[8] Congacou died on 15 June 1993.[5]

References

1. Profile of Tahirou Congacou
2. "Index Co-Cz".
3. https://assemblee-nationale.bj/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Histoire-et-patrimoine.pdf
4. Decalo 1976, p. 40.
5. "Foreign ministers A-D", Rulers.org, retrieved 2009-01-14
6. Ronen 1975, p. 199.
7. Decalo 1976, p. 46.
8. Decalo 1976, p. 41.

Bibliography

• Decalo, Samuel (April 1973), "Regionalism, Politics, and the Military in Dahomey", The Journal of Developing Areas, College of Business, Tennessee State University, 7 (3): 449–478, JSTOR 4190033.
• Decalo, Samuel (1976), Historical Dictionary of Dahomey (People's Republic of Benin), Metuchen, New Jersey: Scarecrow Press, ISBN 978-0-8108-0833-1, OCLC 82503.
• Ronen, Dov (1975), Dahomey: Between Tradition and Modernity, Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press, ISBN 978-0-8014-0927-1, OCLC 1527290.