# DRC Opposition Fights Tshisekedi’s New Referendum Law, Fearing Term‑Limit Changes After 2028

*Thursday, November 12, 2026 at 6:07 AM UTC — Hamer Intelligence Services Desk*

**Published**: 2026-11-12T06:07:37.938Z (50m ago)
**Category**: geopolitics | **Region**: Africa
**Importance**: 8/10
**Sources**: OSINT
**Permalink**: https://hamerintel.com/data/articles/23203.md
**Source**: https://hamerintel.com/summaries

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**Deck**: Opposition parties in the Democratic Republic of Congo are condemning a law signed by President Félix Tshisekedi that makes it easier to hold constitutional referendums. They warn the change could clear a path for altering term limits so he can stay in power beyond 2028.

A new law signed by President Félix Tshisekedi has opened a fresh political confrontation in the Democratic Republic of Congo over who will rule after 2028.

On 12 November, an order read on national television announced that Tshisekedi had enacted legislation easing the rules for holding referendums on constitutional questions. The broadcast did not spell out the detailed changes, but the core effect is to simplify how such votes can be called.

Opposition figures responded quickly, accusing the president of preparing the ground to amend constitutional term limits and extend his stay in office beyond 2028. They argue that a more flexible referendum process could be used to reshape the basic rules of the political system before his current mandate ends.

Under the existing framework, Tshisekedi would not be able to remain in power beyond that date without altering the constitution or the way it is interpreted. The opposition sees the new law as the first step in that direction, even though no concrete proposal to change term limits has yet been announced.

The dispute comes in a country where political rules are often contested and where mistrust between government and opposition runs deep. Changing how constitutional referendums are triggered goes straight to the question of who gets to decide those rules and on what timetable.

In the near term, what matters most is whether the opposition can turn its denunciations into organized resistance, and whether the presidency offers any explicit assurances that term limits will remain intact. The reactions of regional bodies and major partners will also signal how much space Tshisekedi has to maneuver with his new referendum powers.