By Swift Reporter
Tensions are rising in the Democratic Republic of Congo as opposition protests against proposed constitutional changes intensified this week, with security forces using tear gas and making arrests in several major cities.
Demonstrations organised by the opposition C64 coalition were held on Tuesday, September 15, in Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Kindu and other parts of the country despite restrictions on public gatherings. Police moved to disperse protesters in several locations, while clashes were also reported between opposition supporters and groups backing President Félix Tshisekedi.
In Kinshasa, hundreds of demonstrators gathered to oppose the proposed constitutional changes, with police firing tear gas and warning shots to break up the crowds. Reports also indicated arrests in the capital and other cities.
In Lubumbashi, a major mining centre in southeastern Congo, activists defied a ban on demonstrations before security forces dispersed them. Smaller protests and arrests were also reported in parts of eastern Congo and in Mbandaka, where authorities had similarly prohibited public gatherings.
At the centre of the dispute are proposed constitutional reforms that opponents say could create a path for Tshisekedi to seek a third term.
Under the current constitution, the Congolese president is limited to two five-year terms. Tshisekedi was first elected in 2018, taking office in 2019, and won re-election in 2023. His second term is scheduled to run until 2028.
The president has previously said he has not asked for a third term but has indicated that he would accept another mandate if voters supported it through a constitutional process. His position has fuelled opposition concerns that the proposed reforms could eventually remove or alter the existing restrictions on presidential terms.
The C64 coalition has rejected the proposed changes and has organised demonstrations demanding that the government abandon the constitutional initiative. The opposition argues that changing the rules on presidential tenure could concentrate political power and undermine the country’s existing constitutional framework.
The government, however, has maintained that citizens have a constitutional right to demonstrate as long as protests are conducted lawfully. Government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya has also accused opposition figures of spreading misinformation around the proposed reforms.
The political confrontation comes as Congo faces several other major challenges.
The country is currently battling a large outbreak of Ebola caused by the Bundibugyo virus. The outbreak was declared in May and has since spread across several provinces. By September 11, official figures showed more than 7,000 confirmed cases, while the World Health Organization said on September 16 that the outbreak had spread to a seventh province.
Although health authorities have reported encouraging signs in some areas, WHO has warned that the outbreak remains serious, with population movement and insecurity complicating efforts to contain the virus.
Congo is also dealing with a long-running armed conflict in the east, particularly in North and South Kivu, where the M23 rebellion has displaced large numbers of people and complicated government and humanitarian operations.
The overlapping political, security and public-health challenges have increased pressure on the government as it prepares for the next phase of the constitutional process.
For Tshisekedi’s opponents, the proposed reforms have become a major political red line. For the government, the constitutional debate remains part of a broader political process whose outcome could have significant implications for the country’s leadership beyond 2028.
With protests continuing and opposition groups promising further mobilisation, the debate over constitutional reform is likely to remain one of the country’s most closely watched political issues ahead of the 2028 presidential election.
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