Rosine Vieyra Soglo

Rose-Marie Honorine Vieyra (7 March 1934 – 25 July 2021) was a Beninese politician. Soglo served as First Lady of Benin from 1991 to 1996 during the presidency of her husband, she was born into a family of the elite community of Afro-Brazilian returnees to Benin Nicéphore Soglo. Rosine’s father, who encouraged her to excel, sent her to France at the age of twelve for her education. There, as a high school student, she met Nicéphore Dieudonné Soglo, a fellow Beninese and member of a prominent branch of the royal family of Dahomey, She is considered the first lady of Benin of the democratic era following Benin's transition to a multi-party democracy.

Rosine Vieyra Soglo at the inauguration of the Memorial to the Abolition of Slavery in Nantes, France, on March 25, 2012

Quotes

• Each day, the night falls a little more for me. I am at the dusk of my passionate life, and it’s the normal process of things.
  • [1] Rosine speak on her life in 2018.
• How, finally, do I express my affection and tenderness to you, my children? I must confess that I am increasingly tired.
  • [2] Rosine expressed her gratitude to her followers in 2018.
  • This project appears to be a liberty-killer, personalized, tailor-made, and therefore risky"
• Additionally, it lacks modesty and pretends to heal a country that is not sick from its constitution, rather a model envied for its stability, change of governments, its people’s maturity and the vitality of its institutions despite a few dysfunctions.
  • [3] Rosine rejects proposal in 2017.

• "If he doesn’t kill me, I will kill him,” she stated publicly and loudly that she would hurt talon children if he hurts her child. She said with a straight face.
• “The K.O. truck will run over my body. I am willing to die here,” Soglo shouted in a crowd of voters.
• “These people are the assassins of democracy,” she stated during Constitutional March in court.
• “How, finally, do I express my affection and tenderness to you, my children? I must confess that I am increasingly tired. Each day, the night falls a little more for me. I am at the dusk of my passionate life, and it’s the normal process of things.”
• “it would be for people like you, ‘the voiceless,’ ‘the toothless,’ brave and dignified men and women with value, people for whom no sacrifices would have been too large.”
• “I must admit, my children, my very dear children, that I am hurt by the situation in our country. I am hurt by what is becoming of my country.”

Quotes about Rosine Vieyra

• More than an Amazon, our country has just lost a true architect and protector of Benin of justice and freedom who saw the birth of my generation.
  • [4] Former Minister of Finance Komi Koutché speak about Rosine after her demise.
• During the short time that I had the honor of being close enough to her, I was also able to note the importance she placed on integrity and loyalty.
  • [5] Valentin Djenontin-Agossou speak on the personality of Rosine.
• Intrepid patriot, Mom was involved in all the fights for the development of African women.
  • [6] Former President Boni Yayi mourn Rosine.