On Thursday, August 13, President Félix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) called for Parliament to undertake a new deliberation regarding the law outlining the procedures for organizing a referendum on constitutional reform. This move came amidst a tense “countdown” initiated by the Coalition Article 64 (C64), a significant opposition platform established in May by the DRC’s primary political opposition forces. The C64 views this legislative initiative, championed by the presidential party since 2024, as a mechanism designed to enable President Tshisekedi to pursue a third term in office, a move explicitly prohibited by the 2006 Constitution.
In Kinshasa on Wednesday, August 12, Dieudonné Bolengetenge, the Secretary General of Moïse Katumbi’s Ensemble pour la République party and spokesperson for the C64, issued a stern warning. He stated that the coalition would no longer accept mere advice but would instead actively encourage public mobilizations if the president failed to initiate a national dialogue. The C64 had set Saturday, August 15, as the deadline to assess any progress in political dialogue undertaken by the president. They simultaneously urged the populace to prepare for “mobilization and resistance” should the proposed referendum bill, currently under parliamentary review, not be withdrawn.
A small step in the right direction
While President Tshisekedi’s concession does not entirely satisfy the opposition coalition, which has committed to maintaining its pressure, it has been acknowledged as “a small step in the right direction.” Prince Epenge, a co-founder of the C64, emphasized this sentiment, indicating a cautious optimism despite ongoing demands. Previously, a march planned by the C64 in Kinshasa for July 22 had been postponed following appeals from the Catholic and Protestant Churches in Congo, which advocated for political actors to prioritize dialogue and de-escalation.
Beyond the C64, a collective of 65 Congolese civil society organizations also voiced their concerns. In a memorandum submitted on Monday, August 10, to the head of state and key national institutions, they urged Félix Tshisekedi to abandon the idea of a referendum to reform the Constitution. Their memorandum highlighted that “such an initiative would, on the contrary, risk exacerbating political tensions, deepening social divisions, and diverting institutions from the nation’s true priorities.”
