Sourou-Migan Apithy

president of Benin

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 18, 2026

Quick Summary

Sourou-Migan Apithy was a prominent politician in Benin (formerly Dahomey). He served as a minister of commerce in the French National Assembly and later held ministerial positions after Benin's independence in 1960. Apithy was president of Benin from 1964 to 1965. His political career was marked by his involvement in the fragmented nationalist movement that emerged during the country's decolonization period, with his support primarily drawn from the Porto-Novo region. He was a key figure in the early political landscape of independent Benin, which experienced significant instability and multiple military coups in its initial decades.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Émile Derlin Zinsou
He became secretary to Deputy Sourou Migan Apithy of the French National Assembly in 1946 and later served as Apithy’s minister of commerce (1957). In 1960 Zinsou was elected to the Dahomeyan Assembly and was also made president of the Supreme Court (1960–62). After independence (Aug. 1, 1960) he held…
Read More
He became secretary to Deputy Sourou Migan Apithy of the French National Assembly in 1946 and later served as Apithy’s minister of commerce (1957). In 1960 Zinsou was elected to the Dahomeyan Assembly and was also made president of the Supreme Court (1960–62). After independence (Aug. 1, 1960) he held…
Read More

Benin
Decolonization, independence, and military coups
…regionally based political parties—led by Sourou-Migan Apithy (president in 1964–65), Justin Ahomadégbé (1972), and Hubert Maga (1960–63 and 1970–72), drawing their principal support respectively from Porto-Novo, Abomey, and the north. After independence in 1960, these political problems were exacerbated by economic difficulties, reflected in student and trade union unrest. The…
Read More
…regionally based political parties—led by Sourou-Migan Apithy (president in 1964–65), Justin Ahomadégbé (1972), and Hubert Maga (1960–63 and 1970–72), drawing their principal support respectively from Porto-Novo, Abomey, and the north. After independence in 1960, these political problems were exacerbated by economic difficulties, reflected in student and trade union unrest. The…
Read More