Emile Derlin Zinsou was born on March 23, 1918, in Ouidah, and died on July 28, 2016.
He was a Beninese political figure.
Zinsou was the President of Dahomey (now Benin) from 17 July 1968 until 10 December 1969, supported by the military regime that took power in 1967.
He also served in the French senate from 1955 to 1958.
Emile was previously Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1962 to 1963 and again from 1965 to 1967.
Zinsou was said to have opposed the one-party Marxist policies of Mathieu Kérékou, who ruled Benin from 1972 to 1990.
He was present at the signing of the treaty that formed the African Union on July 12, 2000 in Togo.
He died in Cotonou, Benin.
Émile Derlin Zinsou passed away at 98 years old.