Rassemblement Démocratique du Dahomé
Encyclopedia
The Rassemblement Démocratique du Dahomé (Dahomey Democratic Rally) was a political party
of Dahomey
(modern day Benin
). It was named and run by Hubert Maga
.
It was a regional party, as were most in Dahomey, and was heavily backed by the northern section of the French colony (particularly among the Bariba
) without much support elsewhere. With this party he ran for the renewal of his mandate at January 2, 1956 legislative elections. Standing for an "active federalism within the French union", Maga won 60,601 votes of the 179,119 cast, compared to 64,344 for Apithy.
From 1961 to 1963 it was the single political party in Dahomey. After the fall of Maga in 1963, the RDD became the opposition. In 1965 the party political activities were banned by General Christophe Soglo
.
In 1970 democracy was restored in Dahomey and its political activities were restored. Hubert Maga was chairman of the Presidential Council.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
of 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...
(modern day Benin
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...
). It was named and run by 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...
.
It was a regional party, as were most in Dahomey, and was heavily backed by the northern section of the French colony (particularly among the Bariba
Bariba
The Bariba people, self designation Baatonu , are the principal inhabitants of Borgou Department, Benin, and cofounders of the Borgu kingdom of what is now northeast Benin and northwest Nigeria. There are perhaps a million Bariba, 80% of them in Benin, where they are the fourth largest ethnic group...
) without much support elsewhere. With this party he ran for the renewal of his mandate at January 2, 1956 legislative elections. Standing for an "active federalism within the French union", Maga won 60,601 votes of the 179,119 cast, compared to 64,344 for Apithy.
From 1961 to 1963 it was the single political party in Dahomey. After the fall of Maga in 1963, the RDD became the opposition. In 1965 the party political activities were banned by General Christophe Soglo
Christophe 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:...
.
In 1970 democracy was restored in Dahomey and its political activities were restored. Hubert Maga was chairman of the Presidential Council.