DRC Opposition Fears Tshisekedi’s New Referendum Law Could Open Door to Extra Term
A new law in the Democratic Republic of Congo eases the rules for holding constitutional referendums, prompting opposition groups to warn it could be used to let President Félix Tshisekedi stay in power beyond 2028.
A change to how the Democratic Republic of Congo can hold constitutional referendums is triggering warnings from the political opposition about term limits and the country’s democratic path.
President Félix Tshisekedi has enacted a law that loosens the rules for organizing referendums on constitutional matters. The measure was announced in a presidential order read on national television, underscoring that it is now in force.
Opposition forces quickly condemned the law. They argue that by easing the conditions for a referendum on constitutional changes, Tshisekedi could clear a path to alter the current rules that limit how long he can stay in office. Their concern is that the new framework might be used to keep him in power beyond 2028, when his present mandate is set to end.
In the material provided, Tshisekedi has not been quoted as saying he intends to change term limits, and the law’s text as described doesn’t spell out specific amendments. Officially, the shift is framed as a change to procedures for consulting the public on constitutional questions. But opposition parties read it against Congo’s history, in which leaders have used legal tools and delays around elections to extend their time at the top.
For them, the risk is that an incumbent with control over state resources, security forces, and much of the media can run a referendum campaign under conditions they view as tilted. If the two‑term presidential limit can be put to a vote under those circumstances, they fear it may be removed or weakened in practice.
The political stakes are heightened by Congo’s economic and security context. The country sits on major reserves of minerals vital to global industry, including those used in batteries and other technologies. Investors and foreign partners watch closely for signals about whether transitions of power will follow the constitution or be reshaped by those in office.
Regionally, disputes over constitutional changes and extra terms in office have led to serious crises in other African states. The DRC’s choices on how flexible its basic law should be will influence relations with donors, neighboring governments, and organizations that have backed Congo’s recent elections.
Key indicators to track now are whether opposition parties can mount legal challenges or organized protests against the law, how the country’s top courts respond if asked to review it, and whether Tshisekedi or his allies start floating specific constitutional changes that would benefit the presidency before 2028.
Sources
- OSINT