Constitution:
18 February 2006
Legal system:
a new constitution was adopted by referendum 18 December 2005;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Joseph KABILA (since 26 January 2001);
note - following the assassination of his father, Laurent Desire
KABILA, on 16 January 2001, Joseph KABILA succeeded to the
presidency, his presidency was reconfirmed by the October 2006
elections; the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Joseph KABILA (since 26 January 2001);
note - following the assassination of his father, Laurent Desire
KABILA, on 16 January 2001, Joseph KABILA succeeded to the
presidency, his presidency was reconfirmed by the October 2006
elections; the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: National Executive Council appointed by the president
elections: under the new constitution the president is elected by
popular vote to a five-year term (eligible for a second term);
elections last held 30 July 2006 with a second round held on 29
October 2006 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: results of 29 October 2006 elections (second
round); Joseph KABILA 58%, Jean-Pierre BEMBA Gombo 42%
note: Joseph KABILA succeeded his father, Laurent Desire KABILA,
following the latter's assassination in January 2001; negotiations
with rebel leaders led to the establishment of a transitional
government in July 2003 with free elections held on 30 July 2006 and
29 October 2006 where the poplar vote confirmed Joseph KABILA as
president
Legislative branch:
bicameral legislature consists of a National Assembly (500 seats;
60 members elected by majority vote in single-member constituencies
440 members elected by open list proportional-representation in
multi-member constituencies; members serve 5-year terms) and a
Senate (108 seats; members elected by provincial assemblies to serve
5-year terms)
elections: National Assembly - last held 30 July 2006 (next to be
held in 2011)
election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - PPRD 111, MLC 64, PALU 34, MSR 27, FR 26, RCD 15,
Independents 63, others 160 (includes 63 political parties that won
fewer than 10 seats)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme
Political parties and leaders:
Congolese Rally for Democracy or RCD [Azaria RUBERWA]; Forces for
Renovation for Union and Solidarity or FONUS [Joseph OLENGHANKOY];
Forces of Renewal or FR [Mbusa NYAMWISI]; Movement for the
Liberation of the Congo or MLC [Jean-Pierre BEMBA]; National
Congolese Lumumbist Movement or MNC [Francois LUMUMBA]; People's
Party for Reconstruction and Democracy or PPRD [Joseph Kabila];
Social Movement for Renewal or MSR; Unified Lumumbast Party or PALU
[Antoine GIZENGA]; Union for Democracy and Social Progress or UDPS
[Etienne TSHISEKEDI wa Mulumba]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, CEPGL, COMESA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (suspended), ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW,
PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Faida MITIFU
chancery: 1800 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009: note -
Consular Office at 1726 M Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 234-7690, 7691
FAX: [1] (202) 234-2609