On the 66th anniversary of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s independence, Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo delivered a stark assessment of the nation’s state. Addressing worshippers at Notre-Dame du Congo Cathedral in Kinshasa, the archbishop highlighted persistent insecurity, ongoing armed conflicts, the presence of foreign forces on Congolese soil, widespread poverty, and a resurgence of the Ebola outbreak. In this grim context, he argued that a constitutional revision should not be a priority.
“Do we truly believe that changing the Constitution, touted as a solution to all these dark realities, is the right answer? Do we think a revision aimed at enabling a third term is the most appropriate response to the suffering of the Congolese people? Given the severity of the current situation, we see neither the need nor the urgency for constitutional change. The priority for the Democratic Republic of the Congo is peace. That is why the National Episcopal Conference of Congo continues to work and will always commit to creating conditions for a comprehensive and inclusive dialogue,” Ambongo declared.
Opposition mobilises
This stance is shared by the Lay Coordination Committee, the Cenco, and the Church of Christ in Congo, which also consider a constitutional reform neither necessary nor urgent in the current context.
Marie-Ange Mushobekwa, a former minister and senior figure in the Front commun pour le Congo—the platform of ex-president Joseph Kabila—was present at the ceremony. She reaffirmed her organisation’s opposition to any modification of Article 220 of the Constitution.
“Article 220 is untouchable. The Constitution clearly states that any elected president can serve only one renewable term. After two terms, one must leave power and hand over to a successor chosen by the Congolese people. Therefore, all political parties and platforms that make up the FCC will now join every demonstration to block any constitutional change. We will be on the streets on 8 July to defend and protect our Constitution,” Mushobekwa said.
“We will be on the streets on 8 July”
Citizens’ movements are echoing the call. Plamédie Bamata from the Patriotisme movement urged Congolese youth to join the opposition-led protest scheduled for 8 July.
“We are determined to stop this third-term project, for which Congolese have already shed much blood fighting to establish this Constitution. We will be on the streets on 8 July. We will march to the Palace of the Nation to show our discontent and say no to any plan to balkanise our country,” Bamata insisted.
After approval by both chambers of Parliament, the bill setting the framework for organising a referendum on constitutional change has been sent to the President for promulgation.
The government and the majority present the law as a text meant to legally regulate the use of referendums.
The opposition, for its part, believes it could pave the way for a revision of the fundamental law.
