A parliamentary election was held in the Republic of the Congo on 24 June 2007, with a second round initially planned for 22 July 2007, but then postponed to 5 August 2007. According to the National Commission of the Organization of the Elections (CONEL), 1,807 candidates stood in the first round for 137 seats in the National Assembly.[1]Course of the Election
Prior to the election, on 24 April, the ruling Congolese Labor Party (PCT) of President Denis Sassou Nguesso and the Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development (MCDDI) of Bernard Kolelas signed an agreement to form an alliance for the parliamentary election as well as future elections.[2]
About 40 opposition parties chose to boycott the election,[3] seeking a new and more independent electoral commission and a later date for the election.[4] Parties that said they would participate in the election included the Pan-African Union for Social Democracy (UPADS) of former president Pascal Lissouba and the Union for Democracy and the Republic (UDR).[5] The Rally for Democracy and Development also initially intended to participate, but later, in a statement on June 8, said that it would not.[1] Emmanuel Ngouolondélé Mongo of the Reflection for a New National Order and Ambroise Hervé Malonga of the Convention of Republicans called for a boycott on May 12, describing the election as a farce.[6] Despite signing an agreement with the government in late April 2007, the National Council of Republicans (CNR), the party of former rebel leader Pasteur Ntumi, later announced it would not participate in the election due to what it described as a lack of transparency.[5] On June 7, Ntumi said that his party would participate,[1] but on June 19 the CNR demanded that the government delay the election within two days or the party would boycott. It alleged that the organization of the election was not transparent and said that electoral rolls had not yet been posted and that voter cards had not yet been distributed.[7]
Prior to the vote, the boycotting opposition appealed to the Constitutional Court regarding alleged electoral flaws, seeking to have the election cancelled, but on June 22 the Constitutional Court rejected this and ruled that only candidates could dispute the election.[8][9]
Campaigning for the election began on June 8 and continued until June 22.[10]
In the first round of the election, held on 24 June, serious problems were reported, including the absence of electoral rolls and voter cards, or errors in them, in some places.[11][12] Widespread delays were reported in the opening of polling stations,[12] and turnout was said to be low.[11][12] The electoral commission said that results would not be available for a week or more.[11] The opposition denounced the election, with Ambroise Hervé Malonga, acting as spokesman for the boycotting opposition parties, calling it "chaos, not an election". The president of CONEL, Henri Bouka, acknowledged problems, but said that they were limited to Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire, the country's two main cities.[13]
In a joint statment of the observer missions of the African Union and the Economic Community of Central African States on June 26, they said that, among other shortcomings, polling stations were opened late, electoral materials were often unavailable, voters were often not included on the voter rolls, and many voters did not receive voter registration cards. They also judged voter turnout to be very low. On the other hand, they said that voting was peaceful and without intimidation.[14]
On June 29, Malonga requested that the election be annulled and that the government, and particularly the Minister for Territorial Administration, François Ibovi, resign.[15] On the previous day, Ibovi had dismissed the Director General for Electoral Affairs, Armand Baboutila, for alleged negligence due to the problems in the election,[15][16] and Gaston Ololo was appointed in his place for the second round of the election in July;[16] however, Malonga said that higher ranking individuals should take responsibility.[15] Roger Bouka of the Congolese Observatory of Human Rights was also sharply critical of irregularities and the failure of voting to take place in some areas, calling for the election to be annulled.[16]
On June 30, results from the Ministry of Territorial Administration showed the ruling PCT winning 23 seats out of the 44 seats declared in the first round[17] (21 in the north and two in the south[18]). Another 12 seats went to its allies: four for the MCDDI, three for the Movement for Action and Revival, two for the Patriotic Union for Democracy and Progress, one for the Movement for Solidarity, one for the Club 2002 PUR, and one for To Act for Congo.[18] Seven seats were won by independent candidates, who are considered to be allies of the ruling party, and two were won by the opposition UPADS.[17][18] A leading figure in UPADS, Joseph Kignoumbi Kiamboungou, denounced the election as "faked".[17]
On July 1, results for two additional seats were declared: one for UPADS and one for an independent candidate.[19]
On July 8, the election was held again in five districts due to the problems that plagued the first attempt. These districts were located in Niari Region, Plateaux Region, Cuvette Region, and Cuvette-Ouest Region.[20] In 14 other districts, seven of them in Brazzaville and six in Pointe-Noire, the election was held again on July 15. CONEL president Henri Bouka described this vote as proceeding calmly and without incident.[21]
UPADS secretary-general Pascal Tsaty-Mabiala said on July 4 that the party would only participate in the second round of the election on July 22 if the electoral rolls are improved, voter registration cards are properly distributed, and the composition of the electoral commissions is changed. It also said that the second round should be delayed to allow time for these things to be done.[22]
On July 12, President Sassou Nguesso stated that the second round would be postponed to a more appropriate date due to the necessary repetition of the first round in many districts.[23] Ibovi announced on July 19 that the second round would be held on August 5, with campaigning from July 20 to August 3. He also announced the results of the first round revotes, in which the PCT and its allies won seven seats; the opposition won none.[24]
On August 1, CONEL president Henri Bouka announced the publication of new voter registration cards in an attempt to ensure that the second round will not be as marred by problems as the first round.[25] He later said that the distribution of the cards would continue until August 4, and that those cards not distributed would be available in polling stations. Tsaty-Mabiala doubted that the election would be transparent and said that the UPADS did not understand why the new cards were being introduced. Malonga was also critical, saying that "the second round will be no different from the first". Observers expressed concern over the failure of electoral lists to be posted in some districts.[26]
The second round took place in 84 districts, with a total of 168 candidates.[25] Reports indicated a low turnout and delays in the opening of polling stations. Bouka gave a positive appraisal of the vote, although there were reports of voters' names, some of whom had been able to vote in the first round, not being included on electoral lists.[27][28] Joseph Kignoumbi Kiamboungou of UPADS denounced the second round as fraudulent and accused the government of seeking to restore single-party rule. Malonga said that the second round was poorly organized.[28]
A report by African Union observers said that there were major problems in the second round; among other things, it cited electoral list errors, with some names absent and others listed more than once, and "incomplete distribution of the new voter registration cards". The report recommended a number of improvements in the organization of elections.[29]
According to results announced by Ibovi on August 9, the PCT won a total of 44 seats, while its allies won a total of 80 seats, including the MCDDI with 12 seats. Opposition parties won a total of 11 seats, 10 for UPADS and one for the UDR. Two seats, for Bouaniela and Liranga districts, were not yet decided, because voting could not be held there on the date of the election.[30]
About 40 opposition parties chose to boycott the election,[3] seeking a new and more independent electoral commission and a later date for the election.[4] Parties that said they would participate in the election included the Pan-African Union for Social Democracy (UPADS) of former president Pascal Lissouba and the Union for Democracy and the Republic (UDR).[5] The Rally for Democracy and Development also initially intended to participate, but later, in a statement on June 8, said that it would not.[1] Emmanuel Ngouolondélé Mongo of the Reflection for a New National Order and Ambroise Hervé Malonga of the Convention of Republicans called for a boycott on May 12, describing the election as a farce.[6] Despite signing an agreement with the government in late April 2007, the National Council of Republicans (CNR), the party of former rebel leader Pasteur Ntumi, later announced it would not participate in the election due to what it described as a lack of transparency.[5] On June 7, Ntumi said that his party would participate,[1] but on June 19 the CNR demanded that the government delay the election within two days or the party would boycott. It alleged that the organization of the election was not transparent and said that electoral rolls had not yet been posted and that voter cards had not yet been distributed.[7]
Prior to the vote, the boycotting opposition appealed to the Constitutional Court regarding alleged electoral flaws, seeking to have the election cancelled, but on June 22 the Constitutional Court rejected this and ruled that only candidates could dispute the election.[8][9]
Campaigning for the election began on June 8 and continued until June 22.[10]
In the first round of the election, held on 24 June, serious problems were reported, including the absence of electoral rolls and voter cards, or errors in them, in some places.[11][12] Widespread delays were reported in the opening of polling stations,[12] and turnout was said to be low.[11][12] The electoral commission said that results would not be available for a week or more.[11] The opposition denounced the election, with Ambroise Hervé Malonga, acting as spokesman for the boycotting opposition parties, calling it "chaos, not an election". The president of CONEL, Henri Bouka, acknowledged problems, but said that they were limited to Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire, the country's two main cities.[13]
In a joint statment of the observer missions of the African Union and the Economic Community of Central African States on June 26, they said that, among other shortcomings, polling stations were opened late, electoral materials were often unavailable, voters were often not included on the voter rolls, and many voters did not receive voter registration cards. They also judged voter turnout to be very low. On the other hand, they said that voting was peaceful and without intimidation.[14]
On June 29, Malonga requested that the election be annulled and that the government, and particularly the Minister for Territorial Administration, François Ibovi, resign.[15] On the previous day, Ibovi had dismissed the Director General for Electoral Affairs, Armand Baboutila, for alleged negligence due to the problems in the election,[15][16] and Gaston Ololo was appointed in his place for the second round of the election in July;[16] however, Malonga said that higher ranking individuals should take responsibility.[15] Roger Bouka of the Congolese Observatory of Human Rights was also sharply critical of irregularities and the failure of voting to take place in some areas, calling for the election to be annulled.[16]
On June 30, results from the Ministry of Territorial Administration showed the ruling PCT winning 23 seats out of the 44 seats declared in the first round[17] (21 in the north and two in the south[18]). Another 12 seats went to its allies: four for the MCDDI, three for the Movement for Action and Revival, two for the Patriotic Union for Democracy and Progress, one for the Movement for Solidarity, one for the Club 2002 PUR, and one for To Act for Congo.[18] Seven seats were won by independent candidates, who are considered to be allies of the ruling party, and two were won by the opposition UPADS.[17][18] A leading figure in UPADS, Joseph Kignoumbi Kiamboungou, denounced the election as "faked".[17]
On July 1, results for two additional seats were declared: one for UPADS and one for an independent candidate.[19]
On July 8, the election was held again in five districts due to the problems that plagued the first attempt. These districts were located in Niari Region, Plateaux Region, Cuvette Region, and Cuvette-Ouest Region.[20] In 14 other districts, seven of them in Brazzaville and six in Pointe-Noire, the election was held again on July 15. CONEL president Henri Bouka described this vote as proceeding calmly and without incident.[21]
UPADS secretary-general Pascal Tsaty-Mabiala said on July 4 that the party would only participate in the second round of the election on July 22 if the electoral rolls are improved, voter registration cards are properly distributed, and the composition of the electoral commissions is changed. It also said that the second round should be delayed to allow time for these things to be done.[22]
On July 12, President Sassou Nguesso stated that the second round would be postponed to a more appropriate date due to the necessary repetition of the first round in many districts.[23] Ibovi announced on July 19 that the second round would be held on August 5, with campaigning from July 20 to August 3. He also announced the results of the first round revotes, in which the PCT and its allies won seven seats; the opposition won none.[24]
On August 1, CONEL president Henri Bouka announced the publication of new voter registration cards in an attempt to ensure that the second round will not be as marred by problems as the first round.[25] He later said that the distribution of the cards would continue until August 4, and that those cards not distributed would be available in polling stations. Tsaty-Mabiala doubted that the election would be transparent and said that the UPADS did not understand why the new cards were being introduced. Malonga was also critical, saying that "the second round will be no different from the first". Observers expressed concern over the failure of electoral lists to be posted in some districts.[26]
The second round took place in 84 districts, with a total of 168 candidates.[25] Reports indicated a low turnout and delays in the opening of polling stations. Bouka gave a positive appraisal of the vote, although there were reports of voters' names, some of whom had been able to vote in the first round, not being included on electoral lists.[27][28] Joseph Kignoumbi Kiamboungou of UPADS denounced the second round as fraudulent and accused the government of seeking to restore single-party rule. Malonga said that the second round was poorly organized.[28]
A report by African Union observers said that there were major problems in the second round; among other things, it cited electoral list errors, with some names absent and others listed more than once, and "incomplete distribution of the new voter registration cards". The report recommended a number of improvements in the organization of elections.[29]
According to results announced by Ibovi on August 9, the PCT won a total of 44 seats, while its allies won a total of 80 seats, including the MCDDI with 12 seats. Opposition parties won a total of 11 seats, 10 for UPADS and one for the UDR. Two seats, for Bouaniela and Liranga districts, were not yet decided, because voting could not be held there on the date of the election.[30]
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