Sahrawi National Council المجلس الوطني الصحراوي Consejo Nacional Saharaui | |
|---|---|
| 12th Period | |
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| History | |
| Founded | 1976 |
| Preceded by | Djema'a |
| Leadership | |
President | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 51 members |
51 | |
Political groups | Government Polisario Front (51) |
| Committees | Six[1]
|
| Elections | |
| Single non-transferable vote | |
Last election | 8–9 April 2023 |
| Meeting place | |
| Sahrawi refugee camps orTifariti | |
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|---|
Legislature
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Administrative divisions
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TheSahrawi National Council (SNC;Arabic:المجلس الوطني الصحراوي,Spanish:Consejo Nacional Saharaui) orSahrawi Parliament is thelegislature of theSahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. Its structure and competences are guided by theConstitution of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). The present speaker since 2020 isHamma Salama.
It was first created byPolisario Front members andSahrawitribal notables as the Provisionary National Council in April or November 1975, after the proclamation ofGuelta Zemmur. On February 27, 1976, POLISARIO leaderEl-Ouali Mustapha Sayed announced that the Council had declared the creation of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, of which it became the first parliament. On the POLISARIO's III General Popular Congress (August 26–30, 1976), a newly elected membership was formally installed as the Sahrawi National Council.
The SNC is aunicameral body, with 53 seats,[2] elected every two years (since the XIII POLISARIO Congress[3]) at the General Popular Congresses by delegates from theSahrawi refugee camps atTindouf province,Algeria, supplemented by representatives of theSahrawi People's Liberation Army and the civil society organizations (UJSARIO,UNMS,UGTSARIO).[4] In the last election (2012), 35% of the parliamentarians were women. It usually convenes inTifariti, at theLiberated Territories of Western Sahara, but on occasion also in therefugee camps.
Among the reforms enacted by the SNC is the abolishment ofdeath penalty. In 1999, the SNC caused the fall of thenPrime MinistersMahfoud Ali Beiba government through amotion of no-confidence. The powers of the SNC were substantially expanded in the 1991 constitutional reforms of the SADR, and has since been further enhanced.
Below is a list of presidents of the Sahrawi Provisional National Council:
| Name | Image | Took office | Left office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mohamed Ould Ziou | 28 November 1975 | August 1976 | [5] |
Below is a list of presidents of the Sahrawi National Council:
| Name | Image | Took office | Left office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sidi Ahmed Ould Mohamed Mahmoud | August 1976 | September 1978 | [6][7] | |
| El-Kenti Ould Jouda | September 1978 | 1984 | [8] | |
| Hamoudi Ould Ahmed Baba | ? – 1985 | 1986 | [9] | |
| Mohamed Ould Mubarek Ould Rahal | 1986 | 1987 – ? | [10][11] | |
| Mohamed Lamine Ould Ahmed |  | ? | ? | |
| Abdelkader Taleb Omar |  | 1995 | 1999 | [12][13] |
| Salem Lebsir | 20 October 1999 | 2003 | [14][15] | |
| Mahfoud Ali Beiba | 2003 | 2 July 2010 | [16] | |
| Mbarek Lehdeib | 2 July 2010 | 10 July 2010 | Acting | |
| Khatri Addouh | .JPG) | 10 July 2010 | 16 March 2020 | [17] |
| Hamma Salama | 16 March 2020 | Present | [18] |
| Party | Seats |
|---|---|
| Popular Front for the Liberation of Saguia el-Hamra and Río de Oro | 53 |
| Total | 53 |
The Sahrawi National Council is a member of thePan-African Parliament.[19]Since October 14, 2011, the SNC is a permanent observer member of theAndean Parliament.[20]
Article 77: The National Council shall have 53 (fifty three) members.