DRC: Félix Tshisekedi, a constitutional revision that sows debate

Kisangani – North-East of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) , a city in the heart of Tshopo, was the scene of a major political announcement on October 23, 2024. In front of a packed crowd at the Place de la Poste, Félix Tshisekedi, president re-elected in December 2023, declared that he wanted to initiate a revision of the Constitution, stating that it “was poorly drafted”. A statement that, unsurprisingly, is already sparking lively debate across the country, particularly because of the potential implications for the length of presidential mandates.

A Constitution under fire from critics

In the midst of a tour of this region of the DRC, Félix Tshisekedi took the opportunity of his speech to address several burning issues: security, economic development, but especially constitutional reform. According to him, the fundamental law adopted in 2006 contains many gaps, justifying a thorough revision, including provisions relating to the limitation of presidential mandates.

Currently, the Constitution stipulates that the head of state can only serve two terms. Re-elected for what is supposed to be his last term, Tshisekedi does not mince his words when he criticizes the genesis of this text: "This Constitution was written in a foreign country. It is not adapted to our realities, and several of its articles must be modified." A statement that seems to want to reassure, because according to him, it is not up to the president alone to decide the length of mandates, but up to the Congolese people to make this decision by referendum.

The 2025 project: towards a new Constitution?

The key announcement of this meeting is the upcoming implementation, starting in 2025, of a process for drafting a new Constitution. Félix Tshisekedi promised to create a commission composed of representatives from all walks of Congolese society. The stated objective: to provide the DRC with a constitutional framework more in line with the country's realities and to avoid the current institutional blockages.

"As of next year, a commission will be appointed to draft a new Constitution that will no longer hamper the functioning of the country," he assured the population of Kisangani, hinting at a pivotal year in Congolese political life. This reform is intended to be ambitious, but it also opens the door to concerns, particularly on the side of the opposition, which sees this process as a veiled attempt to prolong Tshisekedi's reign.

Opponents on alert: threat or opportunity?

If the president's intentions are, according to him, to adapt the text to "Congolese realities", the political opposition remains skeptical. It fears that this revision will serve to legitimize an extension of its power beyond the planned constitutional duration. Already, several opposition figures are expressing their disagreement, anticipating an intense political battle in the months to come. However, Tshisekedi wants to be firm and warns against any attempt at destabilization: "Those who want to take advantage of this announcement to destabilize the country will not succeed."

The revision of the Constitution thus raises a significant dilemma: while some welcome an opportunity to modernize institutions, others see it as a maneuver to strengthen the grip of the current power. This debate is only just beginning, and it is clear that it will play a decisive role in the political future of the DRC.

Tensions rising ahead of local elections

The announcement of this revision comes in a particularly delicate context for the DRC. The country must organize local and provincial elections in the coming months, polls often marked by strong tensions. In this context, the prospect of a constitutional revision could become a campaign argument for the government in place, but also a lever for the opposition which could make it a central point of its criticism.

For his part, Félix Tshisekedi is continuing his tour of the Northeast, with a forthcoming council of ministers scheduled for Kisangani. This announcement of a revision of the Constitution marks a decisive turning point in his second term, and it remains to be seen whether this project can actually come to fruition in a country where reforms are often slow to come to fruition.