National Assembly (Democratic Republic of the Congo) explained

National Assembly
Native Name:	Assemblée nationale
Legislature:	4th Legislature of the Third Republic of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
House Type:	Lower House
Body:	Parliament of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Foundation:	1960
Leader1 Type:	President
Leader2 Type:	Vice President
Members:	500
Term Length:	5 years
Structure1:	Democratic Republic of the Congo National Assembly 2023.svg
Structure1 Res:	300px
Last Election1:	20 December 2023
Session Room:	Palais du peuple de la RDC.jpg
Session Res:	300px
Meeting Place:	Palais du Peuple Lingwala/Kinshasa

The National Assembly is the lower house and main legislative political body of the Parliament of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is one of the two legislative bodies along with the Senate. The National Assembly is composed of deputies (fr. députés) who are elected by the citizens of the DRC. The deputies serve as the voice of the people and are responsible for enacting legislation, representing their constituents' interests, and overseeing the executive branch of government. The National Assembly is responsible for deliberating and passing laws that impact the nation and its citizens.^[1] ^[2] ^[3] It was established by the 2006 constitution, which provided for a bicameral parliament consisting of the National Assembly and the Senate.^[4] It is located at the People's Palace (French: link=no|Palais du Peuple) in Kinshasa.

The inaugural session of the 2024–2028 National Assembly will take place 29 January 2024 with 477 provisionally elected deputies attending.^[5]

Electoral system

The National Assembly is elected every five years by universal suffrage. For the 2023 elections 484 seats of the assembly were apportioned among 179 electoral districts based on voter registration numbers. The remaining 16 seats were reserved for the districts of Kwamouth, Masisi, and Rutshuru territories which did not participate in the election due to armed conflict. The assembly as a whole will consist of 65 members elected in single member constituencies by first-past-the-post and the remaining 435 members elected in multi-member constituencies by open list.

Presidents of the National Assembly

See main article: List of Presidents of the National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Number of deputies for each constituency by province

The number of deputies elected from each subdivision in parentheses.^[6]

Bas-Uele (7)

City of Buta (1)
Territories of Aketi (1), Ango (1), Bambesa (1), Bondo (1), Buta (1), Poko (1)

Équateur (12)

City of Mbandaka (2)
Territories of Basankusu (2), Bikoro (2), Bolomba (2), Bomongo (1), Ingende (1), Lukolela (1), Makanza (1)

Haut-Katanga (31)

Cities of Lubumbashi (14), Likasi (3)
Territories of Kambove (3), Kasenga (2), Kipushi (3), Mitwaba (1), Pweto (2), Sakania (3)

Haut-Lomami (15)

City of Kamina (1)
Territories of Bukama (4), Kabongo (3), Kamina (1), Kaniama (2), Malemba-Nkulu (4)

Haut-Uele (11)

City of Isiro (1)
Territories of Dungu (1), Faradje (2), Niangara (1), Rungu (1), Wamba (3), Watsa (2)

Ituri (28)

City of Bunia (2)
Territories of Aru (6), Djugu (7), Irumu (3), Mahagi (7), Mambasa (3)

Kasaï (19)

City of Tshikapa (2)
Territories of Dekese (1), Ilebo (3), Luebo (2), Mweka (3), Tshikapa (8)

Kasaï Central (19)

City of Kananga (4)
Territories of Demba (3), Dibaya (2), Dimbelenge (2), Kazumba (4), Luiza (4)

Kasaï-Oriental (14)

City of Mbuji-Mayi (6)
Territories of Kabeya-Kamwanga (1), Katanda (2), Lupatapata (1), Miabi (2), Tshilenge (2)

Kinshasa (56)

Kinshasa I (Lukunga) (14), Kinshasa II (Funa) (12), Kinshasa III (Mont-Amba) (11), Kinshasa IV (Tshangu) (19)

Kongo Central (24)

Cities of Boma (2), Matadi (3)
Territories of Kasangulu (2), Kimvula (1), Lukula (2), Luozi (1), Madimba (2), Mbanza-Ngungu (4), Moanda (2), Seke-Banza (1), Songololo (2), Tshela (2)

Kwango (13)

City of Kenge (1)
Territories of Feshi (2), Kahemba (1), Kasongo-Lunda (4), Kenge (4), Popokabaka (1)

Kwilu (28)

Cities of Bandundu (2), Kikwit (3)
Territories of Bagata (3), Bulungu (5), Gungu (4), Idiofa (6), Masi-Manimba (5)

Lomami (16)

Cities of Kabinda (1), Mwene-Ditu (1)
Territories of Kabinda (3), Kamiji (1), Lubao (3), Luilu (4), Ngandajika (3)

Lualaba (13)

City of Kolwezi (3)
Territories of Dilolo (2), Kapanga (1), Lubudi (3), Mutshatsha (3), Sandoa (1)

Mai-Ndombe (12)

City of Inongo (1)
Territories of Bolobo (1), Inongo (2), Kiri (1), Kutu (3), Kwamouth (1), Mushie (1), Oshwe (1), Yumbi (1)

Maniema (12)

City of Kindu (1)
Territories of Kabambare (2), Kailo (1), Kasongo (3), Kibombo (1), Lubutu (1), Pangi (2), Punia (1)

Mongala (11)

City of Lisala (1)
Territories of Bongandanga (3), Bumba (4), Lisala (3)

Nord-Kivu (47)

Cities of Beni (2), Butembo (4), Goma (4)
Territories of Beni (8), Lubero (9), Masisi (8), Nyiragongo (2), Rutshuru (7), Walikale (3)

Nord-Ubangi (9)

City of Gbadolite (1)
Territories of Bosobolo (2), Businga (3), Mobayi-Mbongo (1), Yakoma (2)

Sankuru (14)

Cities of Lumumbaville (1), Lusambo (1)
Territories of Katako-Kombe (3), Kole (2), Lodja (4), Lomela (1), Lubefu (1), Lusambo (1)

Sud-Kivu (32)

City of Bukavu (5)
Territories of Fizi (4), Idjwi (2), Kabare (4), Kalehe (4), Mwenga (3), Shabunda (2), Uvira (4), Walungu (4)

Sud-Ubangi (16)

Cities of Gemena (1), Zongo (1)
Territories of Budjala (3), Gemena (5), Kungu (4), Libenge (2)

Tanganyika (14)

City of Kalemie (2)
Territories of Kabalo (1), Kalemie (2), Kongolo (3), Manono (2), Moba (3), Nyunzu (1)

Tshopo (17)

City of Kisangani (6)
Territories of Bafwasende (1), Banalia (1), Basoko (2), Isangi (3), Opala (1), Ubundu (2), Yahuma (1)

Tshuapa (9)

City of Boende (1)
Territories of Befale (1), Boende (1), Bokungu (2), Djolu (1), Ikela (2), Monkoto (1)

External links

National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Talatala, a project that follows the activities of the National Assembly

Notes and References

Web site: 2006-09-22 . DR Congo: New National Assembly is inaugurated - Democratic Republic of the Congo ReliefWeb . 2023-05-19 . reliefweb.int . en.
Web site: 2006 . International Election Observation Mission to Democratic Republic of Congo 2006 . 2023-05-19 . The Carter Center . English . Atlanta, Georgia.
Web site: Congo (Democratic Republic of the)'s Constitution of 2005 with Amendments through 2011 . 2023-05-19 . constituteproject.org . English.
Web site: United Nations Web Services Section . Address to the National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Kinshasa on 27 January . Un.org . 2007-01-27 . 2016-08-20.
News: RDC: la nouvelle Assemblée fait sa rentrée parlementaire avec quelques incertitudes . 29 January 2024 . . 29 January 2024 . fr.
Tabulated from the lists of candidates for the National Assembly available at the CENI website . See for example the list of national deputy candidates of Sankuru province.