CRS History in Benin Formerly the Kingdom of Dahomey, Benin
gained independence from France on August 1, 1960. Nearly two
years earlier, Catholic Relief Services had signed its first
country agreement to work in Benin. At the request of the
Episcopal Conference of Benin, the United States Catholic
Bishops provided clothes, medical supplies and food to assist
the poor. Over the course of the following five decades, the
needs of the country have changed. CRS has adapted our
programming in response to those changing needs. In 1972,
military officers led by Major Mathieu Kerekou took power,
proclaiming a Marxist-Leninist state and changing the country's
name to Benin. At the end of 1989, Benin renounced Marxist
policies and in the following year became a multiparty,
constitutional democracy. For the last 12 years, Benin has
worked to implement democratic principles through the
decentralization of power. The peaceful election of Dr. Boni
Yayi to the presidency in 2006 highlights Benin's position at
the vanguard of