DRC protesters oppose law to extend presidential term

Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo – Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in the capital on Saturday to protest a draft amendment that would allow President Félix Tshisekedi to remain in office beyond the constitutionally mandated end of his term in 2026. Organizers of the rally, representing a coalition of opposition parties and civil‑society groups, described the proposal as an attempt to circumvent the country’s term‑limit provisions and warned that it could destabilise the nation’s fragile democratic transition. The amendment, currently being debated in the National Assembly, would modify the electoral code to permit a single extension of the presidential mandate, a change critics say lacks a clear constitutional basis.

Security forces responded with a visible presence, deploying riot police and establishing checkpoints around the protest route, but reported no major clashes or arrests. Government spokespersons defended the legislation as a “necessary safeguard” to ensure continuity of governance, while legal experts and international observers have called for broader consultation before any alteration to the constitution. The protests underscore growing public unease ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections, and the outcome of the legislative debate is expected to shape the political landscape of the DRC in the coming months.