DR Congo bishops warn president’s power grab could ignite further violence

Catholic bishops in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are warning against a proposal to amend the country’s Constitution this year, arguing that the worsening security situation and rising political tensions create an unfavorable environment for constitutional revisions.

President Félix Tshisekedi and his supporters have been pushing for a revision of the country’s Constitution, arguing that the law currently adopted in 2006 has become “inadequate” or “obsolete”, and therefore cannot meet the challenges of the moment.

The proposed changes include extending the president’s term of office from 5 to 7 years, but opposition figures suspect the revision is meant to eliminate the two-term limit, which is banned by article 220 of the current Constitution, to allow Félix Tshisekedi to run for a third term.

The new proposals also include recognizing dual nationality, the abolition or reform of the Senate and the Economic and Social Council, and changing the method of electing senators and governors from indirect suffrage to direct suffrage.

The proposed revisions have sparked outrage nationwide, with opposition figures organizing large rallies to urge the Congolese people to reject the proposal.

“I ask the Congolese population to be awake and to say no to this constitutional change.