On Thursday, August 13, under intense pressure from the Article 64 Coalition (C64)—a platform launched in May by the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) leading opposition parties—President Félix Tshisekedi requested parliamentary reconsideration of the law governing constitutional referendum procedures.

The coalition has long argued that the proposed reform, championed since 2024 by the president’s party, could enable Tshisekedi to seek a third term—a move prohibited by the 2006 Constitution.

The day before, on August 12 in Kinshasa, Dieudonné Bolengetenge, Secretary-General of Ensemble pour la République (Moïse Katumbi’s party and C64 spokesperson), warned that the coalition would no longer accept delays but would escalate mobilizations if the president failed to initiate genuine national dialogue.

C64 had set August 15 as a deadline to assess progress in negotiations, urging public “mobilization and resistance” if the controversial referendum bill under parliamentary review was not withdrawn. This call echoed earlier warnings from civil society leaders.

Coalition cautiously acknowledges a modest concession

While the president’s move falls short of the coalition’s full demands, Prince Epenge, C64 co-founder, described it as “a small step in the right direction”. The coalition has indicated it will maintain pressure to ensure further concessions.

Earlier, on July 22, a planned protest in Kinshasa by C64 was postponed following appeals from Catholic and Protestant churches in the DRC, which urged political actors to prioritize dialogue over confrontation.

Civil society joins chorus against constitutional reform

In a joint memorandum submitted to the president and key institutions on August 10, 65 Congolese civil society organizations urged Tshisekedi to abandon the referendum, cautioning that such an initiative could deepen political tensions, widen social divides, and divert attention from the nation’s critical priorities.