| Country: | Benin |
| Type: | presidential |
| Election Date: | 3 March 1996 (first round) 18 March 1996 (second round) |
| Previous Election: | 1991 Beninese presidential election |
| Previous Year: | 1991 |
| Next Election: | 2001 Beninese presidential election |
| Next Year: | 2001 |
| Image1: | Mathieu Kérékou 2006Feb10.JPG |
| Candidate1: | Mathieu Kérékou |
| Party1: | Independent politician |
| Popular Vote1: | 999,453 |
| Percentage1: | 52.49% |
| Candidate2: | Nicéphore Soglo |
| Party2: | Benin Rebirth Party |
| Popular Vote2: | 904,626 |
| Percentage2: | 47.51% |
| President | |
| Before Election: | Nicéphore Soglo |
| Before Party: | UTRD |
| After Election: | Mathieu Kérékou |
| After Party: | Independent politician |
Presidential elections were held in Benin in March 1996. The first round, held on 3 March, 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.[1] Kérékou received very strong support from northern voters,[2] but he also improved his performance in the south compared to the 1991 election.[1]
Soglo alleged fraud, but this was rejected by the Constitutional Court (who had annulled 22% of the votes in the first round), which confirmed Kérékou's victory.[3] Voter turnout was 88% in the first round and 78% in the second round.[4]