Senate (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
| Senate Sénat | |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Elections | |
| Indirect election | |
| Meeting place | |
|
Sénat Palais du Peuple Kinshasa | |
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| This article is part of a series on the politics and government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo |
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Government |
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Judiciary |
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| United Nations Mission |
The Senate is the upper house of the Parliament of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
During the transition period in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2003 - 2006), the Senate, aside from its Legislative role, also had the task of drafting the country's new constitution. This task came to fruition with the adoption of the draft in Parliament in May 2005, and its approval by the Congolese people, in a successful democratic referendum on 18 and 19 December 2005.
The current President of the Senate is Kengo Wa Dondo, elected in May 2007. The Secretary General is David Byaza Sanda Lutala.
Election
Members of the Senate are indirectly elected based on proportional representation by the Provincial Assemblies. Each of the 25 provinces elects four senators, with the exception of the city-province of Kinshasa, which elects 8. Elected senators serve 5 year terms. Former presidents sit as senators for life by right.
Current Senate
Senators were elected under the new constitution on 19 January 2007 by the provincial parliaments of their respective provinces. The results of the latest election was:
| Parties | Alliances | Leader | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (Parti du Peuple pour la Reconstruction et la Démocratie) | AMP | Joseph Kabila | 22 |
| Movement for the Liberation of the Congo (Mouvement pour la Liberation du Congo) | UpN | Jean-Pierre Bemba | 14 |
| Forces for Renewal (Forces du Renouveau) | AMP | Antipas Mbusa Nyamwisi | 7 |
| Rally for Congolese Democracy (Rassemblement Congolais pour la Démocratie) | 7 | ||
| Christian Democrat Party (Parti Démocrate Chrétien) | AMP | José Endundo Bononge | 6 |
| Convention of Christian Democrats (Convention des Démocrates Chrétiens) | 3 | ||
| Social Movement for Renewal (Mouvement Social pour le Renouveau) | AMP | 3 | |
| Unified Lumumbist Party (Parti Lumumbiste Unifié) | AMP | Antoine Gizenga | 2 |
| Alliance of Congolese Democrats (Alliance des Démocrates Congolais) | 1 | ||
| United Congolese Convention (Convention des Congolais Unis) | AMP | 1 | |
| Democratic Convention for Development (Convention Démocrate pour le Développement) | 1 | ||
| Coalition of Congolese Democrats (Coalition des Démocrates Congolais) | Jean-Claude Muyambo | 1 | |
| Convention for the Republic and Democracy (Convention pour la République et la Démocratie) | UpN | 1 | |
| Federalist Christian Democracy (Démocratie Chrétienne Fédéraliste–Convention des Fédéralistes pour la Démocratie Chrétiene) | AMP | Venant Tshipasa | 1 |
| Social Front of Independent Republicans (Front Social des Indépendants Républicains) | 1 | ||
| Liberal Christian Democrats Union (Union des Libéraux Démocrates Chrétiens) | Raymond Tshibanda | 1 | |
| National Alliance Party for Unity (Parti de l’Alliance Nationale pour l’Unité) | AMP | André-Philippe Futa | 1 |
| Democratic Socialist Party (Parti Démocratique Socialiste) | 1 | ||
| Democratic Social Christian Party (Parti Democrate Social Chretien) | André Bo-Boliko Lokonga | 1 | |
| Rally for Economic and Social Development (Rassemblement pour le Développement Économique et Social) | 1 | ||
| Rally of Congolese Democrats and Nationalists (Rassemblement des Congolais Démocrates et Nationalistes) | UpN | 1 | |
| Rally of Social and Federalist Forces (Rassemblement des Forces Sociales et Fédéralistes) | 1 | ||
| Congolese Union for Liberty (Union Congolaise pour la Liberté) | 1 | ||
| Union of Mobutuist Democrats (Union des Démocrates Mobutistes) | AMP | Nzanga Mobutu | 1 |
| National Union of Christian Democrats (Union Nationale des Démocrates Chrétiens) | 1 | ||
| National Union of Federalist Democrats (Union Nationale des Démocrates Fédéralistes) | Mwando Nsimba | 1 | |
| Independent | N/A | N/A | 26 |
| Total | 108 | ||
| Source: http://www.cei-rdc.cd/IMG/pdf/senateur_200107-6.pdf "Portant Annonce des Resultats Provisoires de l'Election des Senateurs du 19 Janvier 2007 en Republique Democratique du Congo"], Commission Electorale Independante, 20 January 2007. | |||
Transitional Senate
| Seats | |
|---|---|
| Movement for the Liberation of Congo (Mouvement pour la Liberation du Congo) | 22 |
| Government | 22 |
| Political opposition | 22 |
| Congolese Rally for Democracy (Rassemblement Congolais pour la Democratie) | 21 |
| Civil Society | 21 |
| Maï-Maï | 4 |
| Congolese Rally for Democracy/Kisangani Liberation Movement (Rassemblement des Congolais pour la Démocratie/ Kisangani Mouvement de Libération) | 3 |
| Rally of Congolese for Democracy-National (Rassemblement des Congolais pour la Démocratie – National) | 1 |
| Total | 120 |
See also
- List of Presidents of the Senate of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Parliament of the Democratic Republic of the Congo