On Thursday, August 13, amidst escalating tensions with the Coalition Article 64 (C64), a significant opposition platform established in May by major political forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), President Félix Tshisekedi requested Parliament to conduct a fresh deliberation. This request concerns a contentious law outlining the procedures for organizing a referendum on constitutional reform.
The C64 coalition asserts that this legislative proposal, championed by the presidential party since 2024, is a calculated maneuver designed to enable President Tshisekedi to seek a third term, a move explicitly prohibited by the 2006 Constitution governing the DRC’s political landscape.
Just a day earlier, on Wednesday, August 12, in Kinshasa, Dieudonné Bolengetenge, the Secretary General of Moïse Katumbi’s Ensemble pour la République and spokesperson for C64, issued a stern warning. He indicated that the coalition would no longer entertain negotiations but would instead rally for public mobilizations if the President failed to initiate a national dialogue. The coalition had set Saturday, August 15, as a deadline to assess progress in the political dialogue initiated by the President, simultaneously urging the populace to prepare for “mobilization and resistance” should the proposed referendum law, then under parliamentary review, not be withdrawn.
A small step in the right direction
While President Tshisekedi’s concession does not fully satisfy the C64 coalition, which has resolved to maintain its pressure, it nonetheless signifies “a small step in the right direction,” as articulated by Prince Epenge, a co-founder of C64. This development is a key point in current pan-African current affairs, reflecting the dynamic nature of Africa politics English discussions.
A march initially planned for July 22 in Kinshasa by C64 had been postponed following appeals from the Catholic and Protestant Churches of Congo, which advocated for dialogue among political stakeholders. This highlights the role of civil society in shaping African society news.
Beyond C64, a collective of 65 Congolese civil society organizations formally addressed President Félix Tshisekedi and the nation’s principal institutions on Monday, August 10, through a memorandum. They urged the President to abandon his plans for a constitutional reform referendum, cautioning that “such an initiative risks exacerbating political tensions, deepening social divisions, and diverting national institutions from the nation’s true priorities.” This is a significant development for African news today and for those following The Panafrican Press.
