Christophe Soglo was born on 28 June 1909 in Abomey, French Dahomey to a chiefly Fon family.

He fought during World War II, serving in Morocco and participating in the Allies' landings in Corsica, Elba, and southern France.

Promoted to the rank of lieutenant,[1] at the end of the war he was made a staff officer for the French Colonial Army.

[1] After Benin achieved independence in 1960, Soglo was given the rank of colonel in the army and became its chief of staff under President Hubert Maga.

[4] After reorganizing the government, he gave up power in January 1964 and allowed former premier Sourou-Migan Apithy to become president.