- Sahrawi National Council
The Sahrawi National Council or simply National Council (SNC) is the legislature of the
government in exile of theSahrawi Arab Democratic Republic . Its structure and competences are guided by theConstitution of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). The present speaker isMahfoud Ali Beiba (since 2003).It was first created by
Polisario Front members andSahrawi tribal notables in November 1975 as the Provisionary National Council, after the proclamation ofGuelta Zemmur . OnFebruary 27 ,1976 , Polisario leaderEl-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 ofTindouf ,Algeria , supplemented by representatives of the Sahrawi People's Liberation Army and the so-called popular organizations (UJSARIO ,UNMS ,UGTSARIO ). 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 amotion 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)Fact|date=June 2007.
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