Sahel-Benin Union

Sahel-Benin Union was a short-lived union of four former French colonies of French West Africa, that were the four Republics of Upper Volta (Burkina Faso), Niger, Dahomey (Benin) and Côte d’Ivoire.

This union "was the grouping that worked in the most efficient way for the cause of African unity. This union [...] was provided with modest but functional institutions; a Council seating with the Chiefs of States, the ministers of common affairs and the presidents of the National Assemblies [Assemblées Nationales]. A customs union was set up as well as sinking fund. A political, economic and military coordination developed.". Nevertheless, it lasted only for a short time and was replaced by May 1959 far more modestly by the Conseil de l'Entente.