Congo police disperse protests over constitutional changes as third-term fears grow

Police in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) dispersed protests across several cities on September 15 as opposition groups demonstrated against proposed constitutional changes they fear could eventually enable President Félix Tshisekedi to seek another term. Reuters witnesses reported tear gas and warning shots in Kinshasa, while demonstrations in Lubumbashi and Uvira were prohibited by local authorities but went ahead before being dispersed.

The demonstrations were organised by the C64 opposition coalition associated with political figures including Martin Fayulu, Moïse Katumbi and Delly Sesanga. Congo’s current constitution limits presidents to two five-year terms, and Tshisekedi is serving his second elected term. Parliament adopted legislation in June allowing constitutional amendments to be submitted to a referendum, while members of the governing coalition have advocated changes that critics say could allow Tshisekedi to stay in power beyond the current limit.

What happened during the September 15 protests in Kinshasa?

Several hundred demonstrators gathered in the capital for an authorised protest that initially proceeded peacefully, according to Reuters witnesses. Clashes later developed between demonstrators and pro-government groups, with people on both sides throwing stones and some brandishing machetes. Police intervened as the confrontation escalated, using tear gas and firing warning shots.

The circumstances elsewhere were different because authorities had prohibited demonstrations in Lubumbashi and Uvira. Protesters gathered despite those restrictions and security forces dispersed them comparatively quickly. The events follow an earlier C64 protest in Kinshasa in June that was also broken up by police, demonstrating how constitutional reform has become a recurring source of confrontation.

What does Congo’s constitution currently say about presidential term limits?

The constitution establishes presidential terms of five years and restricts a president to two terms. Tshisekedi first took office in 2019 and won another term following the December 2023 election, meaning the present constitutional framework prevents a straightforward third consecutive term under the existing rules.

The political dispute concerns whether constitutional amendments could change that structure before the end of his current mandate. Parliament’s June decision created a procedure through which proposed amendments could be presented to voters in a referendum. Supporters of reform argue that Congo’s constitutional system contains weaknesses that should be reconsidered, while opposition parties and prominent church organisations fear changes could be structured to benefit the incumbent political coalition.

Has President Félix Tshisekedi formally announced that he will seek a third term?

The Reuters reporting on the September protests does not establish that Tshisekedi has formally announced a third-term candidacy. Opposition concern instead arises from constitutional reform proposals and statements by members of his political coalition supporting changes that could permit him to remain in office. Any article claiming that Tshisekedi has definitively decided to run for a third term would therefore go beyond the confirmed facts currently available.

Tshisekedi has called for a broader national dialogue involving opposition parties, religious groups and civil-society organisations. He has framed that process as an attempt to address Congo’s political challenges, while opponents argue that dialogue cannot substitute for clear guarantees protecting presidential term limits. The proposed talks exclude rebel organisations controlling territory in eastern Congo, adding another layer of disagreement.

Why is constitutional reform particularly sensitive in the Democratic Republic of the Congo?

The country has a long history of authoritarian rule, contested elections and violent transfers of political power, making presidential tenure an unusually sensitive issue. The current constitutional order was designed partly to create clearer limits on executive authority after years of conflict and political instability.

Changing term limits can therefore generate fears that constitutional revision is being used to extend individual rule rather than improve institutions. Similar disputes have triggered major political crises elsewhere in Africa when sitting leaders altered or attempted to alter constitutional restrictions. Supporters of Tshisekedi’s coalition can argue that constitutional amendment through parliament and referendum is itself a legal democratic process, while opponents question whether institutional conditions would allow a genuinely fair debate.

How does the conflict in eastern Congo complicate the political confrontation in Kinshasa?

Congo is simultaneously confronting armed groups and territorial insecurity in its eastern regions, making domestic political instability particularly dangerous. Rebel control and repeated fighting have displaced large numbers of civilians and created persistent tensions with neighbouring countries. A prolonged constitutional crisis could divert political and security resources away from those conflicts.

Tshisekedi’s proposed national dialogue is partly presented as a response to this broader national instability. Opposition leaders, however, have demanded that political reconciliation not become a vehicle for constitutional changes affecting presidential tenure. This creates two overlapping disputes: how Congo should address armed conflict and how political power should be structured in Kinshasa.

What are the key takeaways from Congo’s constitutional protests?

The confirmed dispute is over proposed constitutional reform, not an already approved third presidential term. Congo’s present constitution still limits presidents to two five-year terms, and opposition groups fear amendments could remove or alter that restriction. Police dispersed demonstrations in multiple cities on September 15 after clashes in Kinshasa and banned protests elsewhere.

The next crucial stage will be the content of any specific constitutional proposal and whether the government pursues a referendum. Political rhetoric alone cannot establish what final amendments would contain, so the exact legal text will matter considerably. If term limits are formally placed on the agenda, the confrontation is likely to become one of Congo’s most consequential domestic political battles.