President Félix Tshisekedi has taken a tactical step back by returning a constitutional referendum bill to Parliament for a second review. This decision follows a recent constitutional court ruling that validated the bill with certain conditions. The move comes as the ultimatum issued by the opposition coalition C64 approaches its deadline on 15 August.

C64, along with over sixty civil society organizations, insists that the president abandon his constitutional reform plans by the stipulated deadline and withdraw the referendum bill entirely. They are also demanding the immediate initiation of an inclusive national dialogue. However, with less than 24 hours remaining before the ultimatum expires, no timeline has been set for these negotiations.

A strategic retreat under mounting pressure

Many had assumed the referendum bill would automatically enter into force after the 15-day constitutional review period expired. Instead, President Tshisekedi has chosen to send the bill back to Parliament for further debate, incorporating the constitutional court’s observations. This move has been interpreted as a tactical retreat rather than a full surrender.

Professor Bob Kabamba, a political analyst at the University of Liège in Belgium, suggests this decision reflects significant pressure from both domestic opposition forces and regional stakeholders. “The president’s move is a clear retreat,” Kabamba notes, “but it does not signal an end to his broader ambitions to extend his time in office beyond 2028, when his second term is set to conclude.”

Opposition vows intensified action

The C64 coalition has welcomed the president’s decision to return the bill to Parliament but remains firmly committed to its demands. With the 15 August deadline looming, coalition leaders are preparing a series of decisive actions to escalate pressure on the government.

Franklin Tshiamala, Secretary-General of Leadership for Governance and Development (LGD) and former associate of Prime Minister Augustin Matata Ponyo, delivered a stern warning: “At midnight on 15 August, we will confirm that nothing has been achieved. We will unveil a series of precise, targeted operations through our C64 strategy lab to force this regime to restore our freedoms and protect our national sovereignty.”

Power retains resolve on referendum

The government continues to defend the referendum process as a legitimate constitutional and political initiative. Officials have dismissed the C64 ultimatum as an illegitimate attempt to dictate the president’s agenda, reaffirming their commitment to the referendum path.

Adolphe Amisi Makutano, a senior member of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), the party of President Tshisekedi, emphasized the government’s position: “The C64 ultimatum is theirs alone—perhaps designed to please their backers. But the Republic continues to function normally.”

As the political standoff intensifies, the 15 August deadline could mark the beginning of a new chapter in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s turbulent political landscape.