National Assembly (Central African Republic) Explained

National Assembly
Native Name:Assemblée nationale
Coa Pic:Emblem of the National Assembly of the Central African Republic.svg
Coa Res:150px
Election1:5 May 2021
Leader2 Type:Deputy Speakers
Leader2:Gervais Ngbako
Jean-Marie Zangba
Patrice Goumba
Françoise Gboungboma
Évariste Ngoufack
Guillaume Maboko
Alphonse Dangaye
Election2:5 May 2021
Leader3 Type:Spokesperson of the Assembly
Leader3:Clément Yombi
Election3:5 May 2021
Members:140 members
Structure1:Central African Republic National Assembly 2022.svg
Structure1 Res:250px
Political Groups1:
Last Election1:27 December 2020
14 March 2021 (parliamentary re-run)
23 May 2021 (run-offs)
Session Room:File:RN2, Bangui - Mapillary (EnSv9GmVhlJqj7vaq-k9SQ).jpg
Session Res:250px

The National Assembly is the lower house of the Parliament of the Central African Republic. Members are elected in single-member constituencies using the two-round (or Run-off) system. Members serve five-year terms.[1]

Legislative history

The first legislative arm was established in January 1947, called Representative Council of Ubangi-Shari. It was replaced by the 50-member Territorial Assembly of Ubangi-Shari in April 1952. Constituent Legislative Assembly was established in December 1958. The 50-member Legislative Assembly of the CAR (Assemblée législative de la RCA) began its functions in February 1959. It was replaced by National Assembly on 12 December 1960.[2]

Jean-Bédel Bokassa dissolved the National Assembly in 1966 and imprisoned number of its deputies. The constitution of Central African Empire in 1976 outlined National Assembly with elections planned in 1979, however, Bokassa was overthrown before the elections took place.

The legislature of the Central African Republic was previously (at least as of 1990[3]) a bicameral institution known as Congress, of which the National Assembly was the lower house; the upper house was called the Economic and Regional Council (French: Conseil Economique et Regional).

The National Assembly will be dissolved by Jan 11, 2014 and new legislative elections will be held, according to a ceasefire agreement signed between the government and the Seleka rebel coalition on Jan 11, 2013 in Libreville, Gabon. According to the agreement, a national unity government will be formed and a prime minister will be chosen from the opposition parties.[4]

The National Assembly formed following elections held on 13 March and 8 May 2005, and had a total of 105 members.

The National Assembly is the lower house of the Parliament of the Central African Republic since the ratification of the Constitution of the Central African Republic on 27 March 2016.

Senate will be abolished upon the adoption of the 2023 constitution, and the National Assembly will be unicameral again.

See also

References

4.3933°N 18.5629°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Central African Republic. 5 July 2018.
  2. Book: Bradshaw . Richard . Fandos-Rius . Juan . Historical dictionary of the Central African Republic . 2016 . Rowman & Littlefield . Lanham Boulder New York Toronto Plymouth, UK . 9780810879928.
  3. http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/wofact90/world12.txt "1990 CIA World Factbook"
  4. News: Central African Republic ceasefire signed. BBC News. 11 January 2013.