Political Unrest Mounts in DR Congo as Police Suppress Protests Over Proposed Constitutional Changes

Security forces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have dispersed demonstrations with tear gas and detained multiple participants during a nationwide crackdown on rallies opposing proposed constitutional reforms. The controversial measures have sparked significant domestic concern because critics argue they could enable President Felix Tshisekedi to seek a third term in office.

The unrest unfolded prominently on Tuesday in the capital, Kinshasa, where hundreds of citizens assembled to voice their opposition to any revision of the national charter. Law enforcement officers quickly moved in to break up the crowds, using tear gas and heavy security deployments to prevent demonstrators from marching through key avenues of the city.

Tensions were not confined to the capital, as protests also erupted across other major urban centers despite strict local prohibitions. Demonstrators took to the streets in Lubumbashi, a vital mining and commercial hub situated in the southeastern region of the country, as well as in the eastern city of Uvira, where crowds similarly attempted to register their resistance to the constitutional proposals.

According to reports from the scenes of confrontation, at least 10 people were taken into custody by security forces during the Tuesday rallies. The street actions had been organized as part of a coordinated day of mobilization by "C64," a unified coalition established by opposition parties with the specific aim of defeating the president’s constitutional revision initiative.

Opposition leaders forcefully condemned the conduct of the authorities during the protests. Mohamed Eyenga, a senior figure within the C64 coalition and a representative of the Envol opposition party, stated that law enforcement had carried out unwarranted detentions against those participating in the marches.

Eyenga noted that many opposition activists were arbitrarily arrested by security personnel throughout the day. He further expressed deep dismay at the scale of the state's security operation, remarking that organizers were taken aback by the extensive deployment of both police and military units positioned across the city to suppress what was intended to be a peaceful demonstration.

In contrast to the statements from opposition figures, state security authorities offered a differing account of the policing operations. General Blaise Kilimbalimba, the provincial police commander, maintained that security personnel had not targeted peaceful marchers, insisting that individuals demonstrating peacefully were not subject to arrest.

At the core of the political crisis is the nation's fundamental law, which currently restricts sitting presidents to serving a maximum of two five-year terms. Opponents fear that alterations to the existing framework would dismantle these established term limits, paving the way for Tshisekedi to extend his tenure beyond the constitutionally prescribed boundary.

The political momentum behind the proposed constitutional changes has gathered strength within legislative chambers over recent months. In June, the Congolese parliament passed legislation that permits constitutional revisions to be submitted to a public referendum, a development that received clear backing from members of the ruling coalition who favor allowing Tshisekedi to remain in power.

The drive to reshape the constitution has generated fierce pushback from a broad spectrum of Congolese society. Beyond traditional political opposition factions, the influential Catholic Church has strongly criticized the proposed amendments, cautioning against maneuvers that could undermine democratic principles and destabilize the country.

The mass demonstrations occurred just three weeks after President Tshisekedi announced an initiative to convene a broad national dialogue. That proposed forum is intended to bring together opposition political groups, members of civil society, and religious leaders to discuss the nation's future direction.

However, the planned dialogue intentionally excludes active rebel groups, most notably the March 23 Movement (M23) and other non-state armed actors currently controlling territory in the volatile eastern DRC. The eastern provinces have endured decades of violent instability, which worsened dramatically after hostilities flared up once again in 2024.

The ongoing fighting in the east has also fueled severe regional friction between Kinshasa and neighboring Rwanda. The Congolese government has repeatedly accused Rwanda of providing direct backing to M23 insurgents, an accusation that authorities in Kigali continue to deny as critical elements of the fragile peace framework remain unfulfilled.

Despite lingering hostility, high-level diplomatic efforts remain scheduled to address the conflict. Representatives from both the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda are slated to meet in Geneva, Switzerland, on September 16 and 17 to discuss the practical execution of the 2025 Washington Accords.

The eruption of street protests adds yet another layer of strain to a country already grappling with intense armed conflict and an unprecedented health disaster. The DRC is currently struggling to contain the most severe Ebola epidemic in recorded history, a public health emergency that has been severely aggravated by the lack of state infrastructure, remote geography, and active warfare across the northern and eastern regions.