Beninese Military Personnel: Maurice Kouandt, Mathieu Krkou, Alphonse Alley, Paul-Mile de Souza, Benot Sinzogan, Christophe Soglo

Chapters: Maurice Kouandt, Mathieu Krkou, Alphonse Alley, Paul-mile de Souza, Benot Sinzogan, Christophe Soglo, Pierre Osho, Seh-Dong-Hong-Beh. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 40. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Iropa Maurice Kouandt (September 22, 1932 April 7, 2003) was a military officer and politician in Benin (known as Dahomey until 1975). He was born to Somba parents in the Gaba District of Dahomey. Kouandt enrolled in the army in his late teens. Over the years, he became popular among junior soldiers in the north and gained the contempt of those in the south. Jim Hoagland of The Washington Post described Kouandt as a "moody, brilliant and highly ambitious soldier". On December 17, 1967, Kouandt led a military coup and toppled President Christophe Soglo. Kouandt seized the presidency, although he was unsure how to wield it. He handed power to Alphonse Alley two days later, and forced him to retire in 1968 in favor of Kouandt's choice, Emile Derlin Zinsou. Kouandt was appointed chief of staff of Dahomey's 1,500-man army and launched another coup against Zinsou, on December 10, 1969, to defend it. The military did not recognise Kouandt as legitimate, and the elections that followed paved the way toward a Presidential Council form of government. Kouandt attempted to usurp to power again at dawn on March 23, 1972, but the convoluted plot was foiled and Kouandt was sentenced to death. Kouandete was immediately pardoned when Major Mathieu Krkou, his cousin, seized power on October 26. After his pardon, Kouandt retired from military life and died in 2003. Kouandt was born in the Gaba District of northern Dahomey to Somba parents. He was a cousin of Mathieu Krkou, who also become president of Benin. In his late teens, Kouandt enrolled in the arm...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=5255851