On Thursday, August 13, amidst a tense political climate and an ongoing “countdown” set by the Coalition Article 64 (C64), President Félix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) requested Parliament to engage in a fresh deliberation concerning the law that outlines the conditions for organizing a constitutional reform referendum. C64, a significant platform established in May by leading opposition forces, has been a vocal critic of this legislative initiative.
According to the coalition, this proposed bill, championed by the presidential party since 2024, is merely a tool designed to enable President Tshisekedi to pursue a third term in office. Such a move would directly contravene the 2006 Constitution, which explicitly prohibits a president from seeking more than two terms.
Dieudonné Bolengetenge, the Secretary-General of Moïse Katumbi’s Ensemble pour la République party and a spokesperson for C64, had issued a stern warning on Wednesday, August 12, in Kinshasa. He declared that the coalition would no longer entertain “advice” but would instead actively encourage public mobilizations if the president failed to initiate a national dialogue.
The coalition had previously set Saturday, August 15, as the deadline to assess the progress of political dialogue undertaken by the president. They simultaneously urged the populace to engage in “mobilization and resistance” should the “withdrawal of the proposed referendum law currently under parliamentary review” not be confirmed.
A small step in the right direction
While President Tshisekedi’s recent concession does not entirely satisfy the C64 coalition, which has affirmed its intention to “maintain” pressure, it is seen as “a small step in the right direction.” This sentiment was expressed by Prince Epenge, a co-founder of the C64 Coalition.
A planned march in Kinshasa by C64, initially scheduled for July 22, had been postponed following interventions by the Catholic and Protestant Churches of Congo. These religious bodies had called upon political stakeholders to prioritize dialogue and de-escalation.
Beyond C64, a collective of 65 Congolese civil society organizations also joined the chorus of opposition. In a memorandum addressed to the head of state and the nation’s principal institutions on Monday, August 10, they urged Félix Tshisekedi to abandon his proposed constitutional referendum. Their argument was clear: “Such an initiative risks, on the contrary, exacerbating political tensions, deepening social divides, and diverting institutions from the nation’s true priorities.”