1996 Beninese presidential election

Presidential elections were held in Benin in March 1996. The first round, held on 3 March (or 4 March^[1]), saw no candidate gain over 50% of the vote, resulting in a second round held on 18 March. Mathieu Kérékou, a former military dictator who had come second in the first round, was victorious in the second round, beating incumbent Nicéphore Soglo, after gaining the backing of the third- and fourth-placed candidates.^[2][3] Kérékou received very strong support from northern voters,^[4] but he also improved his performance in the south compared to the 1991 election.^[2]

Soglo alleged fraud, but this was rejected by the Constitutional Court (who had annulled 22% of the votes in the first round),^[5] which confirmed Kérékou's victory.^[6][3] Voter turnout was 88% in the first round and 78% in the second round.^[5]