Sahrawi National Council
Encyclopedia
The Sahrawi National Council or simply National Council (SNC) 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 is Kathri Aduh (since 2010).
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 third 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 camp
s 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 government of the SADR 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).
Government in exile
A government in exile is a political group that claims to be a country's legitimate government, but for various reasons is unable to exercise its legal power, and instead resides in a foreign country. Governments in exile usually operate under the assumption that they will one day return to their...
of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic is a partially recognised state that claims sovereignty over the entire territory of Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony. SADR was proclaimed by the Polisario Front on February 27, 1976, in Bir Lehlu, Western Sahara. The SADR government controls about...
. Its structure and competences are guided by the Constitution of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
Constitution of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
A constitution of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic was first promulgated in 1976, but it has been revised several times since then. The last major redrafting came in 1991, but this version was further changed by the Sahrawi National Council - the SADR's parliament in exile - in 1995 and...
(SADR). The present speaker is Kathri Aduh (since 2010).
It was first created by Polisario Front
Polisario Front
The POLISARIO, Polisario Front, or Frente Polisario, from the Spanish abbreviation of Frente Popular de Liberación de Saguía el Hamra y Río de Oro is a Sahrawi rebel national liberation movement working for the independence of Western Sahara from Morocco...
members and Sahrawi tribal
Tribe
A tribe, viewed historically or developmentally, consists of a social group existing before the development of, or outside of, states.Many anthropologists use the term tribal society to refer to societies organized largely on the basis of kinship, especially corporate descent groups .Some theorists...
notables in November 1975 as the Provisionary National Council, after the proclamation of Guelta Zemmur
Guelta Zemmur
Guelta Zemmur is a small town or village in the Moroccan-administered territory of Western Sahara.The town is based around a guelta or oasis, retaining rain water for long periods...
. On February 27, 1976, Polisario leader El-Ouali Mustapha Sayed
El-Ouali Mustapha Sayed
El-Ouali Mustapha Sayed was a Sahrawi nationalist leader, co-founder and second Secretary-General of the Polisario Front, & also the first President of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic....
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 third 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 camp
Refugee camp
A refugee camp is a temporary settlement built to receive refugees. Hundreds of thousands of people may live in any one single camp. Usually they are built and run by a government, the United Nations, or international organizations, or NGOs.Refugee camps are generally set up in an impromptu...
s of Tindouf
Tindouf
Tindouf is the main town in Tindouf Province, Algeria, close to the Mauritanian and Moroccan borders. The region is considered of strategic significance, and it houses Algerian military bases. Since 1975, it also contains several Sahrawi refugee camps operated by the Polisario Front a guerrilla...
, Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
, 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
Free Zone (region)
The Free Zone or Liberated Territories is a term used by the Polisario Front to describe the part of Western Sahara that lies to the east of the Moroccan Berm and west and north of the borders with Algeria and Mauritania, respectively...
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 government of the SADR 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).