Zaire Government - 1986

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES 

Official name: Republic of Zaire

Typf republic; constitution establishes strong presidential system

Capital: Kinshasa

Political subdivisions: eight regions and federal district of Kinshasa

Legal system: based on Belgian civil law system and tribal law; new constitution promulgated February 1978; legal education at National University of Zaire; has not accepted compulsory 1CJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Independence Day, 30 June; Anniversary of the Regime, 24 November

Branches: President elected originally in 1970 for seven-year term; Marshal Mobutu reelected July 1984; limits on reelection removed by new constitution; unicameral legislature (310-member National Legislative Council elected for five-year term); the official party is the supreme political institution

Government leader: Marshal MOBUTU Sese Seko, President (since 1965); KENGO Wa Dondo, First State Commissioner (prime minister; since November 1982)

Suffrage: universal and compulsory over age 18

Elections: elections for rural collectivities’ urban zone councils, and the Legislative Council of the Popular Movement of the Revolution were held June-September 1982; presidential referendum/election held July 1984; presidential election/referendum scheduled for 1991

Political parties and leaders: Popular Movement of the Revolution (MPR), only legal party

Voting strength: Mobutu polled 99.6% of vote in the 1984 election

Communists· no Communist party

Member of: AfDB; APC, C1PEC, EAMA, EIB (associate), FAO, G-77, GAIT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IPU, 1TC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OCAM, UD-EAC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

NOTE: The information regarding Zaire on this page is re-published from the 1986 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Zaire 1986 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Zaire 1986 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.