The Dahomeyan Unity Party (french: Parti Dahoméen de l'Unité, PDU) was a

political party A political party is an organization that coordinates candidates to compete in a particular country's elections. It is common for the members of a party to hold similar ideas about politics, and parties may promote specific political ideology ...

in the

Republic of Dahomey The Republic of Dahomey (french: République du Dahomey; ), simply known as Dahomey, was established on 4 December 1958, as a self-governing colony within the French Community. Prior to attaining autonomy, it had been French Dahomey, part of t ...

History

The party was established on 13 November 1960 by the merger of the Republican Party of Dahomey (PRD) led by

Sourou-Migan Apithy Sourou-Migan Marcellin Joseph Apithy (April 8, 1913 – December 3, 1989) was a Beninese political figure 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 on ...

, the

Dahomeyan Democratic Rally The Dahomeyan Democratic Rally (french: Rassemblement Démocratique Dahoméen, RDD) was a political party in French Dahomey led by Hubert Maga. History The party was established in August 1957 by a merger of the Dahomeyan Democratic Movement l ...

(RDD) led by Hubert Maga and the National Liberation Movement (MLN) led by Jean Pliya and

Albert Teveodjré Albert may refer to: Companies * Albert (supermarket), a supermarket chain in the Czech Republic * Albert Heijn, a supermarket chain in the Netherlands * Albert Market, a street market in The Gambia * Albert Productions, a record label * Albert C ...

.Mathurin C Houngnikpo & Samuel Decalo (2012) ''Historical Dictionary of Benin'', Scarecrow Press, p285 The PRD and the RDD had previously merged in 1958 to form the

Dahomeyan Progressive Party The Dahomeyan Progressive Party (french: Parti Progressiste Dahoméen, PPD) was a short-lived political party in French Dahomey. History The party was established in 1958 as by the merger of the Republican Party of Dahomey led by Sourou-Migan ...

, but had split the following year. Chabi Mama became the new party's secretary general.Houngnikpo & Decalo, p283 Changes to the electoral system made by Maga allowed the PDU to win all 60 seats in the Dahomeyan parliamentary election, 1960. The following year, the main opposition party, the Dahomeyan Democratic Union, was banned and its leader Justin Ahomadégbé-Tomêtin imprisoned. As a result, the PDU became the sole legal party in the country. The party was dissolved on 13 November 1963 by Christophe Soglo after Hubert Maga was overthrown in a coup, and a new party, the

Dahomeyan Democratic Party The Dahomeyan Democratic Party (french: Parti Démocratique Dahoméen, PDD) was the sole legal political party in Dahomey from 1963 until 1965. History The PDD was established on 15 December 1963 by Sourou-Migan Apithy and Justin Ahomadégbé ...

was formed by Apithy and Justin Ahomadégbé-Tomêtin.

References

{{Beninese political parties Political parties established in 1960 Political parties disestablished in 1963 Defunct political parties in Benin Parties of one-party systems