The Sahrawi National Council (SNC; Arabic: المجلس الوطني الصحراوي, Spanish: Consejo Nacional Saharaui) or Sahrawi Parliament is the legislature of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. Its structure and competences are guided by the Constitution of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). The present speaker since 2020 is Hamma Salama.
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 |
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 or Tifariti | |
It was first created by Polisario Front members and Sahrawi tribal notables as the Provisionary National Council in April or November 1975, after the proclamation of Guelta Zemmur. On February 27, 1976, POLISARIO leader El-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 a unicameral body, with 53 seats,[2] elected every two years (since the XIII POLISARIO Congress[3]) at the General Popular Congresses by delegates from the Sahrawi refugee camps at Tindouf province, Algeria, supplemented by representatives of the Sahrawi 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 in Tifariti, at the Liberated Territories of Western Sahara, but on occasion also in the refugee camps.
Among the reforms enacted by the SNC is the abolishment of death penalty. In 1999, the SNC caused the fall of then Prime Ministers Mahfoud Ali Beiba government through a motion 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.
List of presidents of the Sahrawi National Council
editBelow 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 |
International membership
editThe Sahrawi National Council is a member of the Pan-African Parliament.[19] Since October 14, 2011, the SNC is a permanent observer member of the Andean Parliament.[20]
References
edit- ^ "La República Árabe Saharaui Democrática (RASD)" [The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR)]. saharaoccidental.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-11-09 – via Una mirada al Sáhara Occidental.
- ^ "The Constitution of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on February 27, 2021.
Article 77: The National Council shall have 53 (fifty three) members.
- ^ "Elections of the Saharawi National Council on Feb 21st (official)". SPS. 22 January 2012. Archived from the original on 11 July 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
- ^ "Formation of a committee to oversee elections of the Saharawi National Council (Presidential Decree)". SPS. 2012-01-16. Archived from the original on 2016-03-08. Retrieved 2013-02-17.
- ^ "Saharawi people marks 40th anniversary of outbreak of armed struggle tomorrow". SPS. 19 May 2013. Archived from the original on 16 June 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
- ^ Hacene-Djaballah, Belkacem (December 27, 1985). "Conflict in Western Sahara: a study of Polisario as an insurgency movement". Catholic University of America – via Google Books.
- ^ "SPSC Letter". Saharan Peoples Support Committee. December 27, 1980 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Africa Research Bulletin". Blackwell. December 27, 1982 – via Google Books.
- ^ "West Africa". West Africa Publishing Company Limited. October 27, 1985 – via Google Books.
- ^ "African defence journal". The Journal. December 27, 1986 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Summary of World Broadcasts: Far East". Monitoring Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. December 27, 1987 – via Google Books.
- ^ "WESTERN SAHARA – weekly news 1997 – week 45". www.arso.org.
- ^ "weeks 31–32". www.arso.org.
- ^ "WESTERN SAHARA – weekly news 2002– week 13+14". www.arso.org.
- ^ "WESTERN SAHARA – weekly news 1999 – week 42". www.arso.org.
- ^ "WESTERN SAHARA – weekly news 2007, weeks 23–24". www.arso.org.
- ^ "Khatri Adduh re-elected as speaker of the Parliament". Sahara Press Service. 2012-02-28. Archived from the original on 2015-01-09. Retrieved 2013-02-17.
- ^ "Parliament". SADR Embassy in Botswana. 6 November 2019.
- ^ Pan-African Parliament Members Archived 2008-03-12 at the Wayback Machine Pan-African Parliament
- ^ "Venezuela es invitada por el Parlamento Andino a volver a la Comunidad Andina" (in Spanish). Parlamento Andino – Oficina de Comunicaciones. 2011-10-14. Archived from the original on 2011-12-16. Retrieved 2011-10-29.