# DRC Opposition Vows to Resist Tshisekedi Law Easing Constitutional Referendum Rules

*Thursday, November 12, 2026 at 6:09 AM UTC — Hamer Intelligence Services Desk*

**Published**: 2026-11-12T06:09:32.962Z (48m ago)
**Category**: geopolitics | **Region**: Africa
**Importance**: 7/10
**Sources**: OSINT
**Permalink**: https://hamerintel.com/data/articles/23211.md
**Source**: https://hamerintel.com/summaries

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**Deck**: Opposition groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo say a new law signed by President Félix Tshisekedi, which makes it easier to hold constitutional referendums, could be used to change rules so he can stay in power beyond 2028.

A new law in the Democratic Republic of Congo is triggering a fresh confrontation over how long President Félix Tshisekedi can remain in office. Opposition parties have condemned legislation he enacted that eases the rules for holding referendums on constitutional matters, warning it could open the way to extend his rule beyond 2028.

The law was announced in an order read on national television. It changes how referendums on the constitution can be called, although the initial reporting did not spell out the detailed procedural shifts. Opposition leaders argue that by making referendums easier to organize, the presidency gains a tool that could be used to alter term limits or adjust eligibility rules in Tshisekedi’s favour.

Their concern rests on the country’s recent history of disputed transitions and weakened institutions. Under the current constitutional framework, Tshisekedi is expected to leave office in 2028. Opposition figures fear that simpler referendum rules are a first step toward rewriting those constraints with a popular vote mechanism that can be steered from the top.

Any attempt to change the basic rules of power in the DRC carries risks for ordinary citizens. Past political showdowns have spilled into street protests and heavy‑handed security responses, particularly in major cities. In a state where services are already strained and insecurity persists in parts of the east, renewed turmoil in Kinshasa over term‑limit politics could quickly feed into broader instability.

The stakes are also economic. The DRC is central to global supply chains for minerals used in energy and technology, and investors watch its political signals closely. Moves that appear to weaken constitutional safeguards or extend incumbency have in the past coincided with higher governance and contract risks for companies operating in the country.

Regionally, other African governments and organisations will be alert to whether Tshisekedi uses the new law to propose changes touching on presidential mandates or leaves term limits intact. Several leaders elsewhere on the continent have used referendums to adjust constitutional term rules, often with contentious results.

Opposition parties have pledged to resist the law, but the form and scale of that resistance are not yet clear from available reports. Key indicators in the coming weeks will include publication of the full legal text, any statements from Tshisekedi or his allies about the scope of possible constitutional changes, and how opposition groups choose to channel their objections. International reactions may follow if it appears that the new referendum rules are being used to reopen term‑limit provisions.