Politics of the Republic of the Congo

Politics of the Republic of the Congo takes place in a framework of a presidential republic, whereby the President is both head of state and head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the two chambers of the parliament. Before the 1997 civil war, the Republic of the Congo's system of government was similar to that of the French. However, after taking power, Denis Sassou-Nguesso suspended the constitution approved in 2000. The new constitution (adopted by referendum in 2002), returns to the earlier model with a seven-year presidential term and a bicameral national parliament. On 27 March, 2015 Sassou Nguesso announced that his government would hold a referendum to change the country's 2002 constitution and allow him to run for a third consecutive term in office.

Executive branch

Main office holders

Office	Name	Party	Since
President	Denis Sassou-Nguesso	Labour Party	25 October 1997

Chiefs of State and Cabinet Members of Foreign Governments [1] Date of Information: September 29, 2009

Pres. Denis SASSOU-Nguesso
Min. of State, Min. of Transport, Civil Aviation, & Maritime Shipping Isidore MVOUBA
Min. of State, Min. of Industrial Development & Private Sector Promotion Rodolphe ADADA
Min. of State, Min. of Justice & Human Rights & Keeper of the Seals Aime Emmanuel YOKA
Min. of State, Min. of Labor & Social Security Florent TSIBA
Min. of State, Min. of Planning, Economy, Land Reform, & Integration Pierre MOUSSA
Min. at the Presidency in Charge of National Defense, Veterans, & Disabled War Veterans Charles Zacharie BOWAO
Min. at the Presidency in Charge of Special Economic Zones Alain Akouala ATIPAULT
Min. of Agriculture & Livestock Rigobert MABOUNDOU
Min. of Civic Education & Youth Zacharie KIMPOMI
Min. of Civil Service & State Reformation Guy Brice Parfait KOLELAS
Min. of Commerce, Consumption, & Supplies Claudine MOUNARI
Min. of Communications in Charge of Relations With Parliament Bienvenu OKIEMY
Min. of Construction, Town Planning, & Housing Claude Alphonse NSILOU
Min. of Culture & Arts Jean-Claude GAKOSSO
Min. of Energy & Water Bruno Jean Richard ITOUA
Min. of Equipment & Public Works Emile OUOSSO
Min. of Finance, Budget, & Public Portfolio Gilbert ONDONGO
Min. of Foreign Affairs & Intl. Cooperation Basile IKOUEBE
Min. of Forestry Economy Henri DJOMBO
Min. of Health & Population Georges MOYEN
Min. of Higher Education & Scientific Research Ange Antoine ABENA
Min. of Hydrocarbons Andri Raphakl LOEMBA
Min. of Interior & Decentrialization Raymond Ziphyrin MBOULOU
Min. of Labor, Employment, & Social Security Florent TSIBA
Min. of Land Affairs & Public Domain Pierre MABIALA
Min. of Maritime & Inland Fisheries, in Charge of Aquaculture Hellot Mampouya MATSON
Min. of Mines, Mineral Industries, & Geology Pierre OBA
Min. of Posts & Technology, in Charge of New Technologies Thierry MOUNGALA
Min. of Primary & Secondary Education, in Charge of Literacy Rosalie KAMA NIAMAYOUA
Min. for the Promotion of Women & the Integration of Women in Development Jeanne Francois LECKOMBA LOUMETO-POMBO
Min. of Scientific Research & Technical Innovation Henri OSSEBI
Min. of Security & Public Order Paul MBOT, Gen.
Min. of Small & Medium-Size Enterprises, in Charge of Cottage Industry Adelaide MOUNDELE-NGOLLO
Min. of Social Affairs, Humanitarian Action, & Solidarity Emilienne RAOUL
Min. of Sports & Sport Education Jacques Yvon NDOLOU
Min. of Sustainable Development, Forestry Economy, & Environment Henri DJOMBO
Min. of Technical Education & Professional Training Andri Okombi SALISSA
Min. of Territory Admin. & Decentralization Raymond MBOULOU
Min. of Tourism Industries & Leisure Mathieu Martial KANI
Min.-Del. for Land Reform & Integration, attached to the Min. of State for Economy, Planning, Land Reform, & Integration Josui Rodrigue NGOUONIMBA
Min.-Del. for Maritime Commerce, attached to the Min. of Transport, Civil Aviation, & Maritime Shipping Martin Parfait Aimi COUSSOUD MAVOUNGOU

Legislative branch

The Parliament (Parlement) has two chambers. The National Assembly (Assemblée Nationale) has 153 members, for a five-year term in single-seat constituencies. The Senate (Sénat) has 66 members, 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

For other political parties see List of political parties in the Republic of Congo. An overview on elections and election results is included in Elections in the Republic of the Congo.

 Summary of the 10 March 2002 Congolese presidential election results

Candidates - Parties	%
Denis Sassou-Nguesso - Congolese Labour Party (Parti Congolais du Travail)/United Democratic Forces (Forces Démocratiques Unies)	89.4
Kignomba Kia Mbougou - Pan-African Union for Social-Democracy (Union Panafricaine pour la Démocratie Sociale)	2.8
Angèle Bandou - Party of the Poor (Parti des Pauvres)	2.3
Jean Félix Demba Telo	1.7
Luc Adamo Mateta - Convention for Democracy and Salvation (Convention pour la Démocratie et le Salut)	1.6
Come Mankasse - Congolese Union of Republicans (Union Congolais des Républicains)	1.3
Bonaventure Mizidy - Republican and Liberal Party (Parti Républicain et Liberal)	1.0
Total (turnout 74.7 %)	100.0
Source: Supreme Court of the Republic of Congo

 Summary of the 24 June and 5 August 2007 Republic of the Congo parliamentary election results

Parties	Seats (1st round)	Seats (2nd round)	Total seats
Congolese Party of Labour (Parti Congolais du Travail)	22	25	47
Independents	8	29	37
Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development (Mouvement Congolais pour la Démocratie et le Développement Intégral)	4	7	11
Pan-African Union for Social Democracy (Union Panafricaine pour la Démocratie Sociale)	3	8	11
Action Movement for Renewal (Mouvement Action Renouveau)	3	2	5
Movement for Solidarity and Development (Mouvement pour la Solidarité et le Développement)	1	2	3
Club 2002	1	2	3
Take Action for Congo (AGIR pour le Congo)	1	2	3
New Democratic Forces (Forces Démocratiques Nouvelles)	0	3	3
Patriotic Union for Democracy and Progress (Union Patriotique pour la Démocratie et le Progrès)	0	2	2
Rally for Democracy and Social Progress (Rassemblement pour la Démocratie et le Progrès Social)	0	2	2
Union for the Republic (Union pour la République)	0	2	2
Union for Progress (Union pour le Progrès)	0	2	2
Union for Democracy and the Republic (Union pour la Démocratie et la République)	0	1	1
Union of Democratic Forces (Union des Forces Démocratiques)	0	1	1
Movement for Democracy and Progess (Mouvement pour la Démocratie et le Progrès)	0	1	1
Youth in Movement (Jeunesse en Mouvement)	0	1	1
Citizen Rally (Rassemblement Citoyen)	0	1	1
The Life Party (Parti la Vie)	0	1	1
Total	43	94	137
Source: Xinhua, Panapress, IPU, E-polytika, AngolaPress, Congopage

International organization participation

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

External links

• Congo Government at DMOZ