DRC referendum bill intensifies constitutional standoff
The Democratic Republic of Congo's National Assembly passed a referendum bill that could pave the way for President Felix Tshisekedi's third term. Opposition accuses him of attempting a constitutional coup.
DRC referendum bill intensifies constitutional standoff
Amid an ongoing Ebola outbreak and instability in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the political elite is increasingly focused on potential constitutional changes. On June 9, the National Assembly passed a bill to organize referendums — a crucial step toward revising the constitution, as President Felix Tshisekedi's second and final term ends in 2028. The vote took place without opposition lawmakers, who have boycotted parliament for weeks in protest.
Tshisekedi has signaled openness to a third term via constitutional revision or even postponing elections. "I have not asked for a third term, but I tell you this: If the people want me to have a third term, I will accept," he said in early May. His Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) has launched a campaign promoting constitutional reform.
Opposition leaders argue the referendum law is designed to bypass term limits. Moise Katumbi, runner-up in the 2023 election now in exile, called it "a subterfuge to enable Felix Tshisekedi to carry out a constitutional coup." Former President Joseph Kabila, sentenced to death for alleged ties to M23 rebels, also condemns what he calls a "dictatorship" in Kinshasa.
The presidential camp defends the bill as an exercise of popular sovereignty. "The sovereign people who decided on limits in 2006 can decide again," said ruling coalition lawmaker Paul-Gaspard Ngondankoy.
Religious groups are divided: some evangelical and Pentecostal churches favor reform, while the influential Catholic and Protestant churches warn against undermining democratic gains.
The opposition has united under the "Article 64 Coalition for the Defense of Constitutional Order" (C64). Nationwide protests, including a "ghost town" strike on June 3, were observed. Further demonstrations are planned.
Some analysts suggest Tshisekedi feels emboldened by international support linked to strategic mineral deals, particularly with the US. In May, Tshisekedi said "the Americans have demanded certain reforms from us" that require revising the constitution.
