New Democratic Forces

Not to be confused with New Democratic Force.

The New Democratic Forces (Forces Démocratiques Nouvelles) was a political party in Congo-Brazzaville from 2007 to 2011.

Seven parties,^[1] which were formerly members of the United Democratic Forces (FDU),^[1][2] agreed to merge to form the FDN on 27 March 2007.^[1][3] They were joined by an additional eight parties and political associations on 10 April, resulting in a total of 15: ACOSS, the URN, the UNDP, the RDPC, Parrreco, PR-Le National, the RP, the MURC, the FNDP, CASAP, the ADP, Poucouna, the PPES, the PNDC, and the PPDS.^[1] One of them—the Union for National Recovery (URN), led by Gabriel Bokilo—subsequently withdrew from the agreement.^[3] Like the FDU, the FDN supports President Denis Sassou Nguesso.^[1][4]

In the immediate aftermath of its formation, the FDN was headed by a collective of seven presidents.^[1] It then held its constitutive congress in Brazzaville on 19–21 April 2007. This congress initiated a two-year transitional process in the development of the party. The congress elected a National Council with 415 members, a National Executive Bureau with seven members, a Permanent Secretariat with 41 members, and a Control and Evaluation Commission with seven members. The National Executive Bureau was jointly headed by Léon Alfred Opimbat and Jean-Marie Tassoua, while Emile Aurélien Bongouandé was chosen as coordinator of the Permanent Secretariat.^[3] In addition to Opimba and Tassou, the party's co-presidents, four vice-presidents were chosen.^[4] On behalf of the new party, Opimbat and Tassoua signed an electoral agreement with Sassou Nguesso's Congolese Labour Party (PCT) on 15 May 2007.^[2]

In the parliamentary election held on 24 June and 5 August 2007, the party won three out of 137 seats:^[5] Jean-Marie Tassoua in Dougou constituency (in Likouala Region), Charlotte Opimbat in the first constituency of Poto-Poto (in Brazzaville),^[6] and Léon Alfred Opimbat in Mbomo constituency (in Cuvette West Region).^[5]

The FDN signed an agreement to join the Rally of the Presidential Majority (RMP) coalition on 27 March 2008.^[7] It subsequently merged itself into the Congolese Labour Party (PCT) on 19 July 2011.^[8]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Cyr Armel Yabbat-Ngo, "Bokilo, Opimbat, Tassoua, Loumouamou et les autres se mettent ensemble et créent leur parti, les F.d.n", Le Semaine Africaine, N° 2686, 13 April 2007, page 3 (French).
2. ^ ^{a b} "Les Forces démocratiques nouvelles et le Parti congolais du travail signent un accord électoral", Les Dépêches de Brazzaville, 16 May 2007 (French).
3. ^ ^{a b c} Roger Ngombé, "Les Forces démocratiques nouvelles se donnent deux ans de transition", Les Dépêches de Brazzaville, 23 April 2007 (French).
4. ^ ^{a b} Jean Dany Ebouélé, "Les Forces démocratiques nouvelles dévoilent les raisons de leur création", Les Dépêches de Brazzaville, 27 April 2007 (French).
5. ^ ^{a b} "Morts et ressuscités...", Les Dépêches de Brazzaville, 10 December 2007 (French).
6. ^ Roger Ngombé, "Les Forces démocratiques nouvelles présentent leurs deux députés", Les Dépêches de Brazzaville, 1 September 2007 (French).
7. ^ Willy Mbossa, "Les Forces démocratiques nouvelles formalisent leur adhésion au Rassemblement de la majorité présidentielle", Les Dépêches de Brazzaville, 27 March 2008 (French).
8. ^ Parfait Wilfried Douniama, "Vie des partis : les Forces démocratiques nouvelles se fondent dans le PCT", Les Dépêches de Brazzaville, 20 July 2011 (French).