C64 postpones July 22 march and sets August 15 deadline for inclusive dialogue in DRC
- Politics
The Article 64 Coalition for the Defense of Constitutional Order (C64) announced today in Kinshasa the postponement of its peaceful march originally scheduled for Wednesday, July 22, before the Palais de la Nation.
The decision, outlined in an official communiqué signed by the coalition’s five leaders—Martin Fayulu (ECiDé), Jean-Marc Kabund (A.Ch), Moïse Katumbi (Ensemble), Augustin Matata (LGD), and Delly Sesanga (Envol)—follows a July 18 appeal from the Congolese Episcopal Conference (CENCO) and the Evangelical Church of Congo (ECC).
The religious leaders urged C64 to grant the government a genuine opportunity to engage in dialogue. The coalition acknowledged the government’s announcement, made following an audience with Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo and Reverend André Bokundoa, of President Félix Tshisekedi’s commitment to organize an “inclusive, peaceful, and resolutely republican dialogue, respecting institutions and the Constitution.”
C64 described its decision to postpone the march as an act of responsibility, emphasizing that it does not signify a retreat from defending constitutional order or a weakening of its resolve. The coalition reaffirmed its opposition to any constitutional amendments, citing Articles 70 and 220, which limit presidential terms to two.
Clear conditions were set: C64 demands the immediate convening of an inclusive national dialogue to address the root causes of the crisis—external aggression and insecurity in the East, governance failures, economic and social challenges, and reforms needed for national reunification and peacebuilding. The coalition also called for confidence-building measures to reassure all stakeholders.
Government must act
The responsibility for the next steps, C64 warned, “now rests with Félix Tshisekedi and his regime.” The coalition cautioned against provocative actions, particularly the pursuit of constitutional changes, explicitly warning against the enactment of a referendum law.
C64 issued an ultimatum: if the inclusive national dialogue is not officially convened by August 15, 2026, or if announced commitments remain unfulfilled, the coalition reserves the right to “draw all political consequences” and call for renewed peaceful civic actions. Until then, C64 pledged to keep its structures—both domestically and abroad—on “maximum mobilization and alert.”
