The legislative session on May 27 became a battleground as opposition deputies from the Ensemble pour la République group walked out in protest. The proposed law, introduced by Deputy Paul-Gaspard Ngondankoy, aims to modernize the referendum framework by replacing outdated provisions from the 2005 political transition. Its goal is to clarify the legal conditions governing popular consultations enshrined in the Constitution.

The ruling coalition defends the reform as a legitimate exercise of parliamentary authority. Steve Mbikayi, National Deputy for the Mont-Amba constituency in Kinshasa and President of the Labour Party (allied to the Union Sacrée de la Nation), argued that constitutional amendments fall squarely within the majority’s prerogative.

“The right to determine whether constitutional or legal reforms are necessary belongs to the ruling majority. Nowhere in the Constitution is the opposition granted the power to initiate or challenge such reforms. That authority rests with parliament, the Head of State, or a petition signed by over 5,000 Congolese citizens. Anything else is merely political posturing,” declared Mbikayi.

Opposition condemns timing amid security crisis

The Ensemble pour la République group rejects the timing of the referendum debate, citing ongoing insecurity in the country’s eastern regions where armed groups maintain control. Christian Mwando, a spokesman for the group, condemned the initiative as an attempt to legitimize rebellion and destabilize the nation.

“The Ensemble pour la République parliamentary group calls on the President to halt these efforts, which seek to normalize rebellion in the eastern part of our country. We urge the Congolese people to resist this dangerous and sinister project that threatens the very survival of our nation. This process is nothing short of a calculated plot against the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Constitution,” stated Mwando.

Political tensions spill into public protests

Aimé Boji Sangara, President of the National Assembly, insisted that the bill’s sole purpose is to establish a legal framework for direct citizen participation on major national issues when conditions permit. Despite the opposition’s withdrawal, the report from the Political, Administrative and Legal Commission was declared admissible with amendments.

The parliamentary clash has now spilled into the streets. Opposition leaders have called for a “dead city” strike on June 3, while supporters of the ruling majority are organizing a counter-march in Kinshasa and several provinces on the same day.