Claudine Munari
Political career since 2002
Political career since 2002
---------------------------

In the [May–June 2002 parliamentary election](/wiki/2002_Republic_of_the_Congo_parliamentary_election "2002 Republic of the Congo parliamentary election"), she was elected to the National Assembly as an [independent candidate](/wiki/Independent_%28politics%29 "Independent (politics)") in Mouyondzi constituency, located in [Bouenza Region](/wiki/Bouenza_Region "Bouenza Region");["Elections législatives : les 51 élus du premier tour"](http://www.brazzaville-adiac.com/index.php?action=depeche&dep_id=936&oldaction=liste&regpay_id=0&them_id=0&cat_id=1&ss_cat_id=0&LISTE_FROM=60&select_month=06&select_year=2002) , *Les Dépêches de Brazzaville*, 5 June 2002 .["Le premier tour des législatives remporté par le PCT"](http://www.congopage.com/article414.html), Panapress, 5 June 2002 . she won the seat in the first round with 72\.55% of the vote. She also became Vice\-President of the Congo\-France Friendship Group.["*Assemblée nationale* : Jean Pierre Thystère Tchikaya fait le point de sa mission en France"](http://www.brazzaville-adiac.com/index.php?action=depeche&dep_id=3739&oldaction=liste&regpay_id=0&them_id=0&cat_id=0&ss_cat_id=0&LISTE_FROM=0&select_month=0&select_year=0), *Les Dépêches de Brazzaville*, 5 July 2003 .

In the [June–August 2007 parliamentary election](/wiki/2007_Republic_of_the_Congo_parliamentary_election "2007 Republic of the Congo parliamentary election"), Munari was re\-elected to the National Assembly from Mouyondzi constituency as an independent candidate.["La liste complète des députés"](http://www.brazzaville-adiac.com/index.php?action=depeche&dep_id=17753&oldaction=liste&regpay_id=0&them_id=0&cat_id=0&ss_cat_id=0&LISTE_FROM=0&select_month=0&select_year=0) , *Les Dépêches de Brazzaville*, 11 August 2007 . She received 30\.80% in the first roundYa Sanza, ["Législatives : La liste des duels du second tour"](http://www.congopage.com/article4808.html), Congopage website, 3 July 2007 . and then prevailed in the second round. Following that election, Munari—who had joined the presidential majorityTshitenge Lubabu, ["Reclassements postélectoraux"](http://www.jeuneafrique.com/jeune_afrique/article_jeune_afrique.asp?art_cle=LIN09097reclaxuarot0), *Jeune Afrique*, 9 September 2007 .—was elected as Second Secretary of the National Assembly on 4 September 2007;["Equilibre"](http://www.brazzaville-adiac.com/index.php?action=depeche&dep_id=18174&oldaction=liste&regpay_id=0&them_id=0&cat_id=0&ss_cat_id=0&LISTE_FROM=0&select_month=0&select_year=0), *Les Dépêches de Brazzaville*, 5 September 2007 .Cyr Armel Yabbat\-Ngo, "Session inaugurale de la 12ème législature de l'Assemblée nationale: Un fidèle du président Sassou au perchoir", *La Semaine Africaine*, number 2,725, 7 September 2007, page 3 . receiving 121 votes from the 129 deputies who were present.

In the National Assembly, Munari focused on cooperation with the [Inter\-Parliamentary Union](/wiki/Inter-Parliamentary_Union "Inter-Parliamentary Union") (IPU) and the [Network of Female Parliamentarians of Africa](/wiki/Network_of_Female_Parliamentarians_of_Africa "Network of Female Parliamentarians of Africa"). Munari also founded a political party, the Movement for Unity, Solidarity, and Work (MUST), and serves as its President.

Munari supported Sassou Nguesso's candidacy in the [July 2009 presidential election](/wiki/2009_Republic_of_the_Congo_presidential_election "2009 Republic of the Congo presidential election"). When the National Initiative for Peace (INP)—an organization designed to support Sassou Nguesso's re\-election bid while emphasizing the importance of peace—was launched on 28 February 2009, Munari was included on the INP's 91\-member National Coordination.Thierry Noungou, ["Plusieurs personnalités proches du président Denis Sassou Nguesso s'organisent autour du concept de paix"](http://www.brazzaville-adiac.com/index.php?action=depeche&dep_id=27605&oldaction=liste&regpay_id=0&them_id=0&cat_id=0&ss_cat_id=0&LISTE_FROM=0&select_month=0&select_year=0) , *Les Dépêches de Brazzaville*, 2 March 2009 .

### Minister of Trade

Munari was appointed to the government as Minister of Trade and Supplies by President Sassou Nguesso on 15 September 2009\.["Gouvernement \- La nouvelle équipe compte trente\-sept membres"](http://www.brazzaville-adiac.com/index.php?action=depeche&dep_id=32774&oldaction=liste&regpay_id=0&them_id=0&cat_id=1&ss_cat_id=0&LISTE_FROM=0&select_month=09&select_year=2009) , *Les Dépêches de Brazzaville*, 16 September 2009 . She met with [Jeanne Dambendzet](/wiki/Jeanne_Dambendzet "Jeanne Dambendzet"), her predecessor as Minister of Trade, on 24 September to discuss issues facing the ministry, including [Economic Partnership Agreements](/wiki/Economic_Partnership_Agreements "Economic Partnership Agreements") with the [European Union](/wiki/European_Union "European Union") and internal trade issues, such as rising [food prices](/wiki/Food_prices "Food prices"). Munari said that she would continue to consult with Dambendzet when needed.Nancy France Loutoumba, ["La nouvelle ministre du Commerce consciente de la charge du département qui lui a été confié"](http://www.brazzaville-adiac.com/index.php?action=depeche&dep_id=33021&oldaction=liste&regpay_id=0&them_id=0&cat_id=&ss_cat_id=0&LISTE_FROM=0&select_month=0&select_year=0) , *Les Dépêches de Brazzaville*, 24 September 2009 .

Having been appointed to the government, it was necessary for Munari to leave the National Assembly. On 22 December 2009, [Joseph Kignoumbi Kia Mboungou](/wiki/Joseph_Kignoumbi_Kia_Mboungou "Joseph Kignoumbi Kia Mboungou") officially succeeded her as Second Secretary of the National Assembly. On that occasion, Munari stressed to Kignoumbi Kia Mboungou the importance of continuing to work with the IPU and the Network of Female Parliamentarians of Africa. She joked that she was "not asking \[him] to wear a skirt" but expressed confidence that the network would listen to him.

In the [July–August 2012 parliamentary election](/wiki/2012_Republic_of_the_Congo_parliamentary_election "2012 Republic of the Congo parliamentary election"), she was re\-elected to the National Assembly as a candidate in Mouyondzi constituency. She won the seat in the second round of voting, receiving 60\.02% of the vote.["Résultats du deuxième tour des élections législatives"](http://www.lasemaineafricaine.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4350:resultats-du-deuxieme-tour-des-elections-legislatives&catid=4:national&Itemid=3) , *La Semaine Africaine*, 11 August 2012 .

Munari came out in opposition to changing the constitution to allow Sassou Nguesso to run for another term and participated in an opposition dialogue, which was held to express objections to constitutional change, in July 2015\. Apparently as a consequence, she was dismissed from the government on 10 August 2015\.["Remaniement au Congo\-Brazzaville : deux ministres opposés à la modification constitutionnelle exclus"](http://www.jeuneafrique.com/256070/politique/remaniement-congo-brazzaville-deux-ministres-opposes-a-modification-constitutionnelle-exclus/), *Jeune Afrique*, 11 August 2015 .


What were the consequences of Munari's opposition?