Why in the news?
Benin President Patrice Talon said the security forces stopped a coup attempt by some soldiers in Cotonou on December 7.
Key Facts
- Country in West Africa
Total area about 112622 sq km
Borders: Niger to the northeast and east, Togo to the west, Burkina Faso to the northwest and the Southern coastline on the Bight of Benin (Gulf of Guinea, Atlantic Ocean) - Major rivers:
- Niger and its tributaries Mékrou, Alibori, Sota (northeast)
- Mono, Couffo, Ouémé
- Official capital: Porto Novo
- Largest city and de facto capital: Cotonou
- Approx population: 10.87 million (2016)
- Official language: French
Widely spoken local languages: Fon, Yoruba - Currency: West African CFA franc (XOF)
- Former French colony; independence in 1960
- Type of government: Presidential Republic
- Multi-party democratic system
| In the recent years Chad, Guinea, Mali and Sudan caught the international attention for which one of the following reasons common to all of them? (2023)
(a) Discovery of rich deposits of rare earth elements (b) Establishement of Chinese military bases (c) Southward expansion of Sahara Desert (d) Successful coups |
