EMILE DERLIN ZINSOU

Émile Derlin Zinsou was born on March 23, 1918, in Ouidah, Benin. He received his education in Porto-Novo and at the École William Ponty in Senegal, where he developed a keen interest in medicine. Zinsou studied at the Dakar Medical College, earning his qualification as a doctor. His medical career began in the French army during the early years of World War II, from 1939 to 1940. Following his military service, he opened a private practice and became increasingly involved in the political landscape of colonial Dahomey.

Zinsou was a founding member of Dahomey's first political party, the Union Progressiste Dahoméenne (UPD). In 1945, he served as an assistant to Sourou-Migan Apithy and was later elected as a deputy to the French National Assembly. From 1947 to 1953, he held the position of vice president of the Assembly for the French Union. During this time, the UPD fractured into regional factions, but Zinsou successfully merged the remnants with the Bloc Populaire Africain, creating the Union Démocratique Dahoméenne.

He served in the French Senate from 1955 to 1958 and forged a close relationship with Léopold Sédar Senghor, who would later become the President of Senegal. Zinsou also acted as Minister of Commerce during a critical period of liberalization in 1958 to 1959. After Dahomey gained independence, he was appointed ambassador to France, later becoming Minister of Foreign Affairs under President Hubert Maga from 1962 until his dismissal in 1963. In 1964, he was a candidate for the secretary-general of the Organization of African Unity.

After the military coup in 1967, Zinsou was unexpectedly chosen as the military's candidate for president and was sworn in on July 17, 1968. His presidency was marked by a series of reforms aimed at combating smuggling and improving tax collection, although these measures alienated military leaders. On December 10, 1969, Zinsou was deposed by his chief of staff, Maurice Kouandété, during a coup that left him injured.

Following his ousting, Zinsou faced significant challenges. In the 1970 presidential election, he received only 3 percent of the vote and chose to relocate to Paris. He opposed the Marxist policies of Mathieu Kérékou, who ruled Benin from 1972 to 1990. Zinsou's name resurfaced during an attempted coup in 1977, which aimed to oust Kérékou, although he consistently denied any involvement.

After a 17-year exile, Zinsou returned to Benin in 1990 and participated in the political discourse, opposing the new constitution in a referendum. He also served as a mediator in the Democratic Republic of the Congo during its civil war in the late 1990s, showcasing his commitment to peace and stability in the region.

As of 2007, Zinsou held the title of Honorary President of the National Union for Democracy and Progress political party. He supported Yayi Boni in the 2006 presidential election and made notable contributions to history, including sending a disc to the Moon with the Apollo 11 mission. Zinsou passed away on July 28, 2016, in Cotonou, Benin, at the age of 98.

Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89mile_Derlin_Zinsou