Congolese churches split over constitutional reform
The constitutional reform project championed by the authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo continues to fuel heated discussions. While Revival Churches back the initiative, the Catholic Church urges caution and calls for preserving democratic gains.
This divide emerges as the constitutional revision process reaches a new milestone, with national deputies adopting the referendum bill.
Revival churches endorse the reform
Revival Churches align with the government’s view that the 2006 Constitution no longer fits the country’s institutional realities.
Archbishop Evariste Ejiba Yamampia, head of the Revival Churches in Congo, believes this reform could enhance governance and development.
“It is about the sovereignty of our territory. It is also about governance. Thirdly, it concerns development and the well-being of our people. It will bring change because it allows proper enjoyment of the country’s riches. We can eliminate budget-consuming entities,” he explains.
Catholic Church warns to protect democratic achievements
The National Episcopal Conference of Congo (Cenco) has not yet issued an official stance. However, the Council of the Apostolate of Catholic Laity in Congo (CALCC) reiterates the Catholic Church’s commitment to the current Constitution, seen as the bedrock of the young Congolese democracy.
“The Church has always maintained that the current Constitution is the foundation of our young democracy. It has consistently called for dialogue and wisdom. The Catholic Church has regularly reminded those in power that leadership is a service. I also acknowledge that the Church has always reminded us, Catholic laypeople, and all people of goodwill living in the DRC, to remain vigilant citizens,” insists Faustin Onombili, president of CALCC.
Opposition challenges the reform
Beyond the religious debate, the reform project is also stoking political tensions. The opposition accuses President Félix Tshisekedi of seeking to alter institutional rules to his advantage.
The Article 64 Coalition, which denounces a “constitutional coup d’état,” planned to file a complaint on Tuesday but postponed the move to focus on a sit-in scheduled for Friday outside Parliament.
With a referendum approaching, the constitutional reform debate appears more polarized than ever, pitting advocates of institutional adaptation against defenders of the democratic framework established by the 2006 Constitution.
