Congo politics: Félix Tshisekedi backs down amid opposition outrage over constitutional reform

On August 13, under growing pressure from the Article 64 Coalition (C64)—a bloc formed in May by Congo’s leading opposition parties—President Félix Tshisekedi requested Parliament reconsider a contentious bill that outlines conditions for organizing a referendum on constitutional reform.

The coalition argues this proposal, championed by the ruling party since 2024, is a calculated move to enable Tshisekedi to pursue a third term, which the 2006 Constitution explicitly prohibits.

The day before, in Kinshasa, Dieudonné Bolengetenge, Secretary-General of Ensemble pour la République and C64 spokesperson, issued a stark warning: the coalition would no longer tolerate delays and would escalate mobilizations unless the president took decisive steps toward national dialogue.

The coalition had set August 15 as a deadline to assess progress in talks initiated by the president, calling on citizens to mobilize and resist if the controversial referendum bill was not withdrawn from parliamentary review.

A cautious concession

While Tshisekedi’s move falls short of the coalition’s full demands, Prince Epenge, C64 co-founder, called it “a small step in the right direction.”

An opposition march planned for July 22 in Kinshasa was postponed following appeals from Catholic and Protestant church leaders, who urged political actors to prioritize dialogue over confrontation.

Beyond C64, 65 Congolese civil society groups issued a joint memorandum to the president and key institutions on August 10, urging Tshisekedi to abandon the referendum push. They warned that such a move could deepen political divisions, fuel social unrest, and divert attention from the nation’s pressing priorities.