Fatshimetrie, October 31, 2024 –
The voice of Me Didier Kondo Pania, lawyer at the Quebec Bar in Canada and at the Bar near the Court of Appeal of Kinshasa-Gombe, resonates with conviction and appeal to the Congolese people to support the initiative of the Head of State Félix Tshisekedi to set up an interdisciplinary commission to study the constitutional question in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
At the heart of the questions, the need for constitutional reform is raised by Me Didier Kondo Pania. He points out the flaws in the Constitution in force since 2006, questioning its real usefulness for the Congolese people. For him, a Constitution must serve to promote national development and resolve internal problems, and not be instrumentalized for foreign interests. He incisively recalls how certain articles, such as Article 217, were drafted in such a way as to weaken the country’s sovereignty.
The question of constitutional revision or the drafting of a new Constitution for the advent of a 4th Republic is at the heart of the debates. Me Didier Kondo Pania underlines the seriousness of the issues, affirming that a simple revision would not be enough in the face of such profound constitutional problems. He advocates for a complete overhaul of the fundamental text to restore the full sovereignty of the Congo.
The prophetic words of the late Etienne Tshisekedi resonate in the commitment of Me Didier Kondo Pania as spokesperson for the four Interfederals of the UDPS. The promises of a constitutional overhaul once the party is in power take on their full meaning in light of the observations made. The objective is clear: to draft a Constitution that truly serves the Congolese people and the Republic.
Ultimately, the quest for a new Constitution in the Democratic Republic of Congo presents itself as a crucial step in restoring the country’s full sovereignty, restoring its integrity and ensuring a better future for its citizens. The path towards a 4th Republic opens with the need for a founding text that meets the aspirations and needs of the Congolese people.