Politics of the Republic of the Congo

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Politics of the Republic of the Congo

Constitution

* Human rights

Government

* President

Denis Sassou Nguesso
* Prime Minister

Anatole Collinet Makosso
* Cabinet

Current government

Parliament

* Senate

President: Pierre Ngolo
* National Assembly

President: Isidore Mvouba

Administrative divisions

* Departments
* Districts
* Communes

Elections

* Recent elections

* Presidential: 2016
* 2021

* Parliamentary: 2017
* 2022

* Political parties
* Electoral Law

Foreign relations

* Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Minister: Jean-Claude Gakosso

* * *

* Diplomatic missions of / in Republic of the Congo

* * *

* Passport
* Visa requirements
* Visa policy

Republic of the Congo portal

* Other countries

* v
* t
* e

Politics of the Republic of the Congo takes place in a framework of a unitary semi-presidential republic, whereby the President is the head of state and the Prime Minister is the head of government, of a pluriform multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the President and the Government. Recently, following the approval of a new Constitution after a referendum in 2015, Congo became a semi-presidential republic after the creation of the post of prime minister who is responsible to the legislature, as well is the cabinet of the former. Legislative power is vested in both the Government and the two chambers of parliament.

Many countries have a semi-presidential republic and elections, examples of other countries than the Republic of the Congo include France, Peru, and Croatia.[1] However, having semi-presidential republic does not necessarily mean that a country is a democracy. A central, but not the only, component of democracy is free and fair elections, where the population can hold accountable those in power.[2] Data collected from Freedom House, shows that the country scored 2/40 on political rights, and 15/60 on civil liberties; however, more specifically, the country scored 0/4 on whether there were free and fair elections.[3]

In terms of civil, political, and human rights, another tenant of democracy, another non-governmental organization, BTI, reports that the rule of law “only exists on paper” in the country;[4] this follows suit from a report from Amnesty International, which documents how Alexandre Ibacka Dzabana and Ras le Bol, both human rights leaders in the country were arrested the day after they announced they would hold a press conference to denounce election irregularities that occurred.[5]

## Executive branch

[edit]

Main article: Cabinet of the Republic of the Congo

Main office-holders  Office  | Name  | Party  | Since

|
|
|

President | Denis Sassou-Nguesso | Party of Labour | 25 October 1997
Prime Minister | Anatole Collinet Makosso | Party of Labour | 12 May 2021

## Legislative branch

[edit]

The Parliament (Parlement) has two chambers. The National Assembly (Assemblée Nationale) elects its members to five-year terms in single-seat constituencies. The members of the Senate (Sénat) are elected for a six-year term by district, local and regional councils. The Republic of Congo is a one party dominant state with the Congolese Labour Party in power. Opposition parties are allowed, but are widely considered to have no real chance of gaining power.

## Political parties and elections

[edit]

Main articles: List of political parties in the Republic of Congo and Elections in the Republic of the Congo

### Presidential elections

[edit]

Main article: 2016 Republic of the Congo presidential election

Candidate| Party| Votes| %

|
|
|

| Denis Sassou Nguesso| Congolese Party of Labour| 838,922| 60.19
| Guy Brice Parfait Kolélas| Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development| 209,632| 15.04
| Jean-Marie Mokoko| Independent| 191,562| 13.74
| Pascal Tsaty Mabiala| Pan-African Union for Social Democracy| 65,025| 4.67
| André Okombi Salissa| Initiative for Democracy in Congo [fr]| 57,373| 4.12
| Claudine Munari| Movement for Unity, Solidarity and Labour [fr]| 21,530| 1.54
| Joseph Kignoumbi Kia Mboungou| Chain| 3,540| 0.25
| Michel Mboussi Ngouari| Convention of Republican Parties| 3,301| 0.24
| Anguios Nganguia Engabé| Party for Action of the Republic| 2,905| 0.21
Total| 1,393,790| 100.00
Valid votes| 1,393,790| 93.55
Invalid/blank votes| 96,171| 6.45
Total votes| 1,489,961| 100.00
Registered voters/turnout| 2,161,839| 68.92
Source: Constitutional Court

### Parliamentary elections

[edit]

Main article: 2017 Republic of the Congo parliamentary election

Party| First round| Second round| Seats

|
|
|

Votes| %| Seats| Votes| %| Seats| Extended
mandate[a]| Total| +/−
| Congolese Party of Labour| | 72| | 19| 5| 96| +7
| Pan-African Union for Social Democracy| | 3| | 5| 0| 8| +1
| Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development| | 0| | 0| 4| 4| −3
| Action and Renewal Movement| | 3| | 1| 0| 4| 0
| Rally for Democracy and Social Progress| | 2| | 1| 0| 3| −2
| Dynamic for the Republic and Recovery| | 0| | 3| 0| 3| New
| Union for a People's Movement| | 2| | 0| 0| 2| +2
| Citizen Rally| | 1| | 0| 0| 1| −2
| Republican and Liberal Party| | 0| | 1| 0| 1| 0
| Club 2002 – Party for the Unity and the Republic| | 1| | 0| 0| 1| 0
| Union of Democratic Forces| | 1| | 0| 0| 1| 0
| Party for Agreement and Political Action| | 1| | 0| 0| 1| +1
| Patriotic Front| | 1| | 0| 0| 1| +1
| Movement for Democracy and Progress| | 0| | 1| 0| 1| +1
| Party for Unity, Liberty and Progress| | 0| | 1| 0| 1| +1
| Congress for Democracy and the Republic| | 0| | 1| 0| 1| New
| CRDP| | 0| | 1| 0| 1| New
| La Chaîne| | 0| | 1| 0| 1| New
| National Movement for the Liberation of Congo| | 0| | 1| 0| 1| New
| Independents| | 8| | 11| 0| 19| +7
Total| | 95| | 47| 9| 151| +12
Registered voters/turnout| 2,221,596| –| | | | |
Source: Jeune Afrique, IPU

1. ^ The elections were not held in the Pool Department (9 seats). Instead, the term of the nine outgoing deputies was extended: Of these, five belonged to the Congolese Party of Labour and four to the Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development.

## International organization participation

[edit]

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UDEAC, UN (Security Council member for 2006/2007), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Samuels, David (2013). Comparative politics. New York: Pearson Education. ISBN 978-0-321-44974-0. OCLC 771425329.
2. ^ Schmitter, Philippe C; Karl, Terry Lynn (1991). "What Democracy Is. . . and Is Not". Journal of Democracy. 2 (3): 75–88\. doi:10.1353/jod.1991.0033. ISSN 1086-3214.
3. ^ "Republic of the Congo: Freedom in the World 2022 Country Report". Freedom House. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
4. ^ "BTI 2022 Congo, Rep. Country Report". BTI 2022. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
5. ^ "Congo Archives". Amnesty International. Retrieved 2023-03-03.

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