Sahrawi National Council
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The Sahrawi National Council (SNC) or simply National Council is the legislature of the government in exile 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 2010 is Kathri Aduh.
It was first created by Polisario Front members and Sahrawi tribal notables in November 1975 as the Provisionary National Council, 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.
It has 101 seats, elected at the General Popular Congresses by delegates from the refugee camps of Tindouf, Algeria, supplemented by representatives of the Sahrawi People's Liberation Army and the so-called popular organizations (UJSARIO, UNMS, UGTSARIO). In the last election, 35% of the parliamentarians were women. It normally convenes in the so-called Free Zone of Western Sahara, but on occasion also in Tindouf.
Among the reforms enacted by the SNC are the abolishment of the death penalty. In 1999, the SNC caused the fall of the 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 (last in 1999)[citation needed].
International membership
The Sahrawi National Council is a member of the Pan-African Parliament.[1] Since October 14, 2011, the SNC is a permanent observer member of the Andean Parliament.[2]
References
- ^ Pan-African Parliament Members Pan-African Parliament
- ^ "Venezuela es invitada por el Parlamento Andino a volver a la Comunidad Andina". Parlamento Andino - Oficina de Comunicaciones. 2011-10-14. Retrieved 2011-10-29. Template:Es icon
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