The party was established in 1960 by the merger of the Republican Party of Dahomey (PRD) led by Sourou-Migan Apithy, the Dahomeyan Democratic Rally (RDD) led by Hubert Maga and the National Liberation Movement (MLN) led by Jean Pliya and Albert Teveodjré.[1] The PRD and the RDD had previously merged in 1958 to form the Dahomeyan Progressive Party, but had split the following year.