During the 66th anniversary of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s independence, Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo painted a grim picture of the nation’s state. Speaking to the congregation at Notre-Dame du Congo Cathedral, the Archbishop of Kinshasa highlighted ongoing insecurity, armed conflicts, the presence of foreign troops on Congolese soil, widespread poverty, and a resurgence of the Ebola outbreak. Amid these pressing challenges, he argued that a constitutional revision should not be a priority.
“Do we truly believe that changing the Constitution, promoted as a solution to all these dark scenarios, do you really think that amending the Constitution to allow 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 necessity nor the urgency of altering the Constitution. The priority for the Democratic Republic of 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 stated firmly.
Opposition mobilisation
This stance is echoed by the Lay Coordination Committee, the Cenco, and the Church of Christ in Congo. They also believe that a constitutional reform is neither needed nor urgent under present conditions.
Marie-Ange Mushobekwa, a former minister and senior figure in the Front commun pour le Congo (FCC), the coalition of ex-President Joseph Kabila, attended the event and reaffirmed her group’s opposition to any modification of Article 220 of the Constitution.
“Article 220 is untouchable, and the Constitution clearly states that any elected president is entitled to only one renewable term. After these two terms, the president must leave office and hand over to a successor chosen by the Congolese people. Therefore, all political parties and platforms that make up the FCC will take part in every demonstration to prevent any constitutional change. We will be on the streets on July 8 to defend and protect our Constitution,” Mushobekwa stressed.
“We will be on the streets on July 8”
Similar sentiments came from civic movements. Plamédie Bamata, of the Patriotism movement, urged Congolese youth to join the opposition protest scheduled for July 8.
“We are determined to end this third-term project, for which Congolese people have already shed much blood in the struggle to establish this Constitution. We will be on the streets on July 8. We will march to the Palace of the Nation to express our discontent and say no to any attempt to balkanize our country,” Bamata insisted.
After being adopted by both chambers of Parliament, the bill outlining procedures for a referendum on constitutional change has been sent to the President of the Republic for promulgation. The government and the ruling majority present this law as a legal framework for holding a referendum. The opposition, however, views it as a potential gateway to revising the foundational law.
