Congo president faces rising opposition pressure over constitutional reform

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, President Félix Tshisekedi has opted to send a referendum bill back to Parliament for a second review—just one day before an ultimatum from the opposition coalition Article 64 expires. The move comes despite the Constitutional Court previously validating the bill, albeit with reservations, setting the stage for a continued standoff between the government and its critics.

The C64 alliance, alongside dozens of civil society groups, has demanded that President Tshisekedi abandon his constitutional reform agenda by August 15 and halt the referendum bill altogether. They are also calling for an inclusive national dialogue, though no timeline has been established for such discussions. With the deadline looming, tensions remain high in Kinshasa and beyond.

Tshisekedi’s strategic retreat amid mounting pressure

Many had assumed the referendum law was already in effect, given the Constitution’s 15-day window for presidential promulgation under Article 140. However, President Tshisekedi’s decision to return the bill to Parliament for further debate signals a tactical shift. This move follows the Constitutional Court’s conditional approval, which imposed key restrictions on the proposed reforms.

Professor Bob Kabamba, a political analyst at the University of Liège, Belgium, views this as a retreat by Tshisekedi—but one unlikely to derail his long-term political ambitions. “The president’s maneuver reflects intense pressure from both domestic opposition and regional actors,” Kabamba notes. “While this is a setback, it doesn’t mean Tshisekedi won’t explore alternative paths to extend his influence beyond 2028.”

C64 vows escalating action after August 15 deadline

The opposition coalition has welcomed the bill’s return to Parliament but remains unyielding in its demands. As the August 15 ultimatum approaches, C64 leaders have hinted at decisive actions to follow. “When midnight strikes on the 15th, we will confirm that nothing has changed,” warns Franklin Tshiamala, Secretary-General of Leadership for Governance and Development (LGD), linked to former Prime Minister Augustin Matata Ponyo. “We will unveil targeted operations from our C64 lab to restore reason to a regime that has stolen our freedoms and threatens our national sovereignty.”

A deepening political standoff

From the government’s perspective, the referendum process is framed as a legitimate political and institutional exercise. The ultimatum from C64 is dismissed as an attempt to dictate state priorities. Adolphe Amisi Makutano, a senior member of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS)—President Tshisekedi’s party—dismisses the opposition’s demands. “This ultimatum is theirs alone, perhaps designed to appease their backers,” he asserts. “The Republic operates independently of such pressures.”

With both sides dug in, the August 15 deadline may mark the beginning of a new chapter in Congo’s turbulent political landscape.