While the security crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continues to dominate global headlines, the country’s political arena is also becoming increasingly tense. In Kinshasa, fears of constitutional manipulation and political repression are deepening an already fragile national climate.
At the center of this political crisis is Article 220 of the Constitution, which limits the number and duration of presidential mandates. President Tshisekedi’s second term is expected to end in 2028, yet debate over constitutional revision has already begun to intensify.
President Félix Tshisekedi has suggested that if the people were to demand that he run for another term, he would consider it. He has further warned that the ongoing war in the east could make it difficult to organize elections in 2028. These statements, taken together, are politically explosive because they suggest that Tshisekedi intends to cling to the presidential seat either through a constitutional coup or by simply postponing elections.
Opposing Tshisekedi’s moves is the Article 64 Coalition (C64), a major opposition coalition formed in May 2026 to defend the constitution. It is named after Article 64 of the DRC Constitution, which affirms citizens’ right to resist any attempt to seize power unconstitutionally.
The coalition brings together prominent opposition figures, including former presidential candidates like Martin Fayulu, Moïse Katumbi, and embattled regime critic, Jean-Marc Kabund. Its stated objective is to prevent any constitutional change that could enable President Félix Tshisekedi to extend his hold on power beyond legal limits.
On June 19, the C64 published a report detailing the repression of a sit-in held on June 12 in Kinshasa. The protest was organized to denounce a proposed referendum law that had already been adopted by the National Assembly, and which observers describe as a maneuver aimed at revising entrenched constitutional provisions.
According to the report, protesters, including Members of Parliament at both national and provincial levels, were met with a violent crackdown involving explosive devices, firearms, machetes, and batons. It also documents cases of assaults, sexual violence, and serious injuries caused by shrapnel, which the report claims are prohibited under international law.
The C64 further states that security forces and individuals linked to the ruling party’s UDPS movement were involved in abuses, including the removal of victims’ bodies and the concealment of evidence. The coalition reports a provisional toll of two dead, 27 missing persons, and more than 500 injured.
The report also lists 338 cases of serious injury, 219 minor injuries, 36 arbitrary arrests, 22 cases of sexual violence, and widespread material damage, looting, and vandalism.
Several opposition figures were among the injured. These include Delly Sesanga, who sustained serious injuries from an explosive device and gunfire; young protesters from Ndombasi, who suffered fractures and burns; Martin Fayulu, who was beaten and injured in the arm and abdomen; Jean-Marc Kabund, who sustained a head injury during a police intervention; and Franklin Tshamala, who was struck in the hand and hips by projectiles.
Taken together, these cases point to a pattern of escalating political violence that risks pushing the country further into instability.
The violence experienced in past political cycles remains a stark warning of how quickly tensions can escalate in the DRC when constitutional order is perceived to be under threat. For many, the concern is not only about legal frameworks, but about the human cost that political contestation continues to exact.
Prolonging conflict is a direct threat to Congolese lives. War has already inflicted immense suffering, and observers argue that political calculations that risk extending it, whether deliberately or through neglect, place millions of civilians in further danger.
The DRC’s stability depends on a political culture that prioritizes citizens over incumbency. Power is temporary; the consequences of its abuse are not.
Congolese lives must come first.