The Democratic Republic of the Congo at a Turning Point

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is facing a critical political moment as President Félix Tshisekedi seeks to amend the 2006 Constitution to allow a third presidential term. The proposed law for the organisation of a constitutional referendum has already passed Parliament and the Senate and was recently declared constitutional by the country's highest court, making its enactment largely a formality. The initiative comes at a particularly sensitive time, with parts of eastern Congo still under the control of AFC/M23 rebels and the country grappling with a worsening Ebola outbreak. Against this backdrop, the practical feasibility of such a referendum, as well as the political responsibility of pursuing it, has come under increasing scrutiny. Critics argue that prioritising constitutional change amid these crises undermines democratic principles and continues a broader trend of eroding the rule of law that began under former President Joseph Kabila. Moreover, the reform could exacerbate existing political tensions and push the country into a more profound institutional crisis.