Yan Boni President of Benin Country: Benin

1. Biography of Yayi Boni
2. Education and Career
3. Political Career
4. Personal Life

Biography of Yayi Boni

Yayi Boni is the former President of Benin, a small West African country. He was born in the central part of the country and obtained his higher education in economics from the National University of Benin in 1976, where he also pursued his master's degree. In 1980-1981, Boni continued his education at the University of Dakar in Senegal.

Education and Career

Boni specialized in banking and finance and defended his doctoral dissertation in economics at the University of Orleans in France in 1991. From 1980 onwards, he held various leadership positions in financial and banking organizations in West African countries. Boni also taught banking at the West African Center for Financial Education in Dakar, Senegal.

In 1992-1994, Boni served as the Presidential Commissioner for Financial and Banking Affairs in Benin and was a member of the Economic Committee under the President of the country. He then became the President of the West African Development Bank in 1994.

Political Career

In the presidential elections of Benin, more than 74 percent of voters chose Yayi Boni, marking a radical change in the country's political landscape. This ended the era of Mathieu Kerekou, who had dominated Benin's politics for the past 30 years.

Personal Life

Yayi Boni is married and has five children. He has been honored with government awards from France, Burkina Faso, Benin, Mali, Niger, and Senegal.