Answer
Mathieu Kérékou was installed by coup, overthrowing the presidential council in 1972. Kérékou was a military officer who had been a member of the presidential council since 1969. He led a coup d'état against the council on November 3, 1972, and established himself as president of Benin. Kérékou ruled Benin as a socialist state until 1990, when he was overthrown in a popular uprising.