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The recent declaration by the President of the Republic Félix Tshisekedi concerning a possible constitutional revision provoked a wave of reactions and sparked lively debates within the Congolese political class. While he had initially adopted a cautious position during his meeting with the Congolese diaspora in Paris, the head of state made an about-face in Brussels by announcing the establishment of a commission responsible for reflecting on a possible overhaul of the Constitution. This announcement was seen as a real turning point in the Congolese political landscape, causing some to fear a calling into question the democratic gains obtained after long struggles.
The question of constitutional revision is indeed a sensitive subject in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a country marked by a tumultuous political history and often chaotic transitions. The 2006 Constitution, adopted after the end of the Second Congo War, was seen as an important foundation for democracy and the stability of the country. Its provisions, in particular article 220 which prohibits the modification of the provisions relating to the number of presidential mandates, were considered essential safeguards to avoid any authoritarian drift.
In this context, Félix Tshisekedi’s proposal to review the Constitution immediately raised questions and concerns. If the Head of State spoke of the need to have a Constitution “worthy of our country”, many observers fear that this initiative will in reality only serve to consolidate the power in place and allow the president to run for office. a new mandate.
This perspective was notably denounced by the opposition, which sees in this proposal an attack on the democratic foundations of the country. Moïse Katumbi, leader of the Ensemble platform, warned that any attempt at constitutional revision would be considered a red line that should not be crossed. For his part, the activist and president of ASADHO, Me Jean-Claude Katende, stressed the importance of preserving the Constitution as a guarantor of the rights and freedoms of Congolese citizens.
In a tense political context marked by growing tensions between the power in place and the opposition, the question of constitutional revision appears to be a major issue for the democratic future of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The coming weeks will tell whether Félix Tshisekedi will manage to reconcile the different sensitivities and find a consensus on the way forward in terms of constitutional reform.
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