Why did the northern Ireland assembly not met since 2002?

The Northern Ireland Assembly did not meet from October 2002 until May 2007 because the Northern Ireland Executive, which is the governing body of Northern Ireland, was suspended. This was due to the ongoing conflict in Northern Ireland, known as the Troubles, and the failure of the Executive to reach an agreement on how to share power between the two main political parties, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Féin.

In 2007, the Assembly was restored after a power-sharing agreement was reached between the DUP and Sinn Féin. This agreement, known as the St Andrews Agreement, set out a framework for the devolution of power to the Northern Ireland Assembly and the establishment of a new Northern Ireland Executive.

The Assembly has met regularly since 2007 and is currently in its fifth mandate. The DUP and Sinn Féin are still the two largest parties in the Assembly, but there are also a number of other parties represented, including the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), and the Alliance Party.