Pascal Chabi Kao (10 March 1935 – 5 August 2024) was a Beninese politician. Chabi Kao was born on 10 March 1935 in

Parakou Parakou is the largest city in northern Benin, and the third-largest city in the country, with an estimated population of around 206,667 people, and capital of the Borgou Department. Administratively the commune of Parakou makes up one of Benin ...

. He was educated at the teachers' training college in

Côte d'Ivoire Ivory Coast, also known as Côte d'Ivoire and officially the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, is a country on the southern coast of West Africa. Its capital city of Yamoussoukro is located in the centre of the country, while its largest city and ...

and the

University of Aix-en-Provence Aix-Marseille University (AMU; ; formally incorporated as ) is a public research university located in the Provence region of southern France. It was founded in 1409 when Louis II of Anjou, Count of Provence, petitioned the Pisan Antipope Alexan ...

in France, earning a bachelor's degree in economics. He served as secretary general of the Dahomeyan Development Bank. Chabi Kao served in the cabinet of president

Hubert Maga Hubert Coutoucou Maga (August 10, 1916 – May 8, 2000) was a politician from Dahomey (now known as Benin). Born a peasant in 1916, Maga served as a schoolmaster from 1936 to 1945, during which time he gradually gained considerable influence among ...

from 1960 to 1963, developing a close personal relationship. He was appointed minister of labor under

Christophe Soglo Christophe Soglo (28 June 1909 – 7 October 1983) was a Beninese military officer and political leader. Early life Christophe Soglo was born on 28 June 1909 in Abomey, French Dahomey to a chiefly Fon family. Military career In 1931, Soglo vo ...

from 1966 to 1967. He had foreknowledge of the 1967 coup that toppled Soglo, and was the minister of finance and civil service in the administrations of Alphonse Alley and Maurice Kouandete, the only civilian in the cabinet.Houngnikpo & Decalo 2013, p. 95. Chabi Kao threatened secession of northern Dahomey in 1970 after the presidential election that would have reinstated Maga was annulled, but was named Minister of Labor and Finance after the Presidential Council was established in May 1970. He was accused of several irregularities, such as bribery, influence peddling, and embezzlement in the Kovacs affair of 1972.

Justin Ahomadégbé-Tomêtin Justin Ahomadegbé-Tomêtin (January 16, 1917 – March 8, 2002) was a Beninese politician most active when his country was known as Dahomey. He arose on a political scene where one's power was dictated by what region of Dahomey one lived i ...

attempted to fire him, but was blocked by Maga. This sparked the October 1972 coup led by

Mathieu Kérékou Mathieu Kérékou (; 2 September 1933 – 14 October 2015) was a Beninese politician who served as president of the People's Republic of Benin from 1972 to 1991 and the Benin, Republic of Benin from 1996 to 2006. After seizing power in a milita ...

, during which Chabi Kao was briefly imprisoned.Houngnikpo & Decalo 2013, p. 232. Along with Alley and Jean-Baptiste Hachème, Chabi Kao was accused of planning a coup against Kérékou on 28 February 1973 and was imprisoned with 20 years of hard labor. Chabi Kao was attached to the

ministry of finance A ministry of finance is a ministry or other government agency in charge of government finance, fiscal policy, and financial regulation. It is headed by a finance minister, an executive or cabinet position . A ministry of finance's portfoli ...

after his early release from prison. He joined Maga's National Party for Democracy and Development in 1989 and was elected to a seat in the National Assembly in the 1991 election. Chabi Kao died on 5 August 2024, at the age of 89.

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References

* *. 1935 births 2024 deaths Finance ministers of Benin People from Parakou 20th-century Beninese politicians National Party for Development and Welfare politicians Members of the National Assembly (Benin) Aix-Marseille University alumni {{Benin-politician-stub