TAHIROU CONGACOU

Tahirou Congacou, born in 1913, was part of the Djougou royal lineage within a Dendi family known for preserving oral traditions. In colonial Dahomey, he served as subprefect in Nikki and became a deputy to the General Council of Dahomey after World War II. His political involvement deepened from 1952 to 1957 when he served in the territorial assembly. Following Hubert Maga's ousting in 1963, Congacou was elected President of the National Assembly and also became the assistant secretary general of the newly established Parti Democratique Dahomeen (PDD).

On November 29, 1965, General Christophe Soglo appointed Congacou as the provisional leader, charging him with forming a coalition government to address the country’s political fragmentation. His administration, which consisted of himself and four technocrats, dissolved the PDD, freed political prisoners, and prepared for elections as mandated by the constitution. However, when elections were not held by the January deadline, Soglo removed Congacou from office on December 22, 1965.

Later, during Émile Derlin Zinsou’s presidency, Congacou led the Social and Economic Council, established in 1968. He remained active in public service until his death on June 15, 1993. Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tahirou_Congacou