Tahirou Congacou
Encyclopedia
Tahirou Congacou was a Beninese
politician, most active during the 1960s, when his country was known as Dahomey
. He served as speaker
of the National Assembly from 1964 to 1965, 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.
family in 1913 and was a descendant of the Djougou
royal house. 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. 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.. He served as President of the National Assembly of Dahomey from January 1964 to November 1965.
forcefully removed Justin Ahomadégbé-Tomêtin
's mandate. He temporarily handed power to Congacou, under the provisions of Articles 17 and 35 of the Dahomeyan constitution. Congacou was charged to form a national coalitition to end the regionalism that dominated Dahomeyan politics at the time.
Congacou's government was composed of himself and four technocrats. It disbanded the PDD on December 4 and set free polititical prisoners. In accordance with Article 7 of the constitution, the regime was forced to hold elections by January 18, 1966.
When the new president failed to do so, Soglo removed Congacou from power on December 22.
, Congacou was president of the Social and Economic Council, established in October 1968. Congacou died in 1994.
Benin
Benin , officially the Republic of Benin, is a country in West Africa. It borders Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east and Burkina Faso and Niger to the north. Its small southern coastline on the Bight of Benin is where a majority of the population is located...
politician, most active during the 1960s, when his country was known as Dahomey
Dahomey
Dahomey was a country in west Africa in what is now the Republic of Benin. The Kingdom of Dahomey was a powerful west African state that was founded in the seventeenth century and survived until 1894. From 1894 until 1960 Dahomey was a part of French West Africa. The independent Republic of Dahomey...
. He served as speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
of the National Assembly from 1964 to 1965, and in that capacity served as acting President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of Benin from 29 November 1965 to 22 December 1965. He also served as acting foreign minister
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
during 1965.
Early political career
Congacou was born to a DendiDendi
Dendi is the name of several African-related subjects:* Dendi Kingdom* Dendi is a district or woreda in Ethiopia;* Mount Dendi, also in Ethiopia;* Dendi people is one of the ethnic groups living in Benin and Niger;...
family in 1913 and was a descendant of the Djougou
Djougou
Djougou is the largest city in north west Benin. It is an important market town. The commune covers an area of 3,966 square kilometres and as of 2002 had a population of 181,895 people.-General Information:...
royal house. His ancestors were oral tradition keepers in the kingdom of Djougou. In colonial Dahomey, Congacou served as a subprefect in Nikki
Nikki
Nikki may refer to:*Nikki , a given name In music:*"Nikki", orchestral composition by Burt Bacharach dedicated to his daughter*Nikki , a Japanese-American singer*Nikki, an album by Japanese rock band Quruli...
. In the aftermath of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he was a deputy to the General Council of Dahomey. He also served in the Dahomey territorial assembly from 1952 to 1957. When Hubert Maga
Hubert Maga
Coutoucou Hubert Maga was a politician from Dahomey .Dahomey was renamed Benin in 1975. See . He arose on a political scene where one's power was dictated by what region in Dahomey they lived...
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.. 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 SogloChristophe Soglo
Christophe Soglo was a Beninese military officer and political leader and one of the most important figures in Benin's period of political instability and frequent, though usually bloodless, coups during the 1960s.-Biography:...
forcefully removed Justin Ahomadégbé-Tomêtin
Justin Ahomadegbé-Tomêtin
Justin Ahomadegbé-Tomêtin was a Beninese politician 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 they lived...
's mandate. He temporarily handed power to Congacou, under the provisions of Articles 17 and 35 of the Dahomeyan constitution. Congacou was charged to form a national coalitition to end the regionalism that dominated Dahomeyan politics at the time.
Congacou's government was composed of himself and four technocrats. It disbanded the PDD on December 4 and set free polititical prisoners. In accordance with Article 7 of the constitution, the regime was forced to hold elections by January 18, 1966.
When the new president failed to do so, Soglo removed Congacou from power on December 22.
Later life
During the presidency of Emile Derlin ZinsouEmile Derlin Zinsou
Emile Derlin Zinsou is a Beninese political figure who was the President of Dahomey from 17 July 1968 until 10 December 1969, supported by the military regime that took power in 1967. Zinsou also served in the French senate from 1955 to 1958. He was previously Minister of Foreign Affairs from...
, Congacou was president of the Social and Economic Council, established in October 1968. Congacou died in 1994.