Africa-Press. The President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Felix Tshisekedi, has announced his readiness to run for a third term if requested by the Congolese people, emphasizing that any amendment or revision of the constitution will not occur without a public referendum.
During a press conference in the capital, Kinshasa, Tshisekedi, who has been in power since 2019, stated that he is “at the service of the Congolese people” if asked to “return,” referring to the possibility of running for president again. He added that any potential constitutional change “will never happen without consulting the people through a public referendum.”
The press conference lasted about three hours, attended by a large number of journalists and government members, and addressed several political and security issues, notably the rising debate regarding a potential constitutional reform led by the presidential camp, which could pave the way for a third term for the Congolese president.
Tshisekedi confirmed that the idea of revising or changing the constitution is not new, but rather an old project adopted by the Union for Democracy and Social Progress party, denying that the proposal is merely an impulsive step or a political provocation. He also linked the constitutional reforms to the partnership agreement signed between Kinshasa and Washington, considering that the agreement requires reforms at the constitutional level, implicitly indicating external pressures alongside internal demands.
Civil society forces have criticized any attempt to amend Article 220 of the Congolese constitution in recent months, which is one of the key articles regulating the maximum terms of presidency.
In another context, Tshisekedi warned that it would be impossible to organize the presidential elections scheduled for 2028 if the armed conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo continues, asserting that the ongoing war in North and South Kivu will make conducting elections unfeasible.
The Congolese president stated, “If we cannot end this war, unfortunately, we will not be able to organize elections in 2028,” adding that the issue is not about a lack of resources, but rather the impossibility of organizing a nationwide vote in the absence of security stability in the east.
Tshisekedi compared the situation in his country to what is happening in Ukraine, noting that the war there has prevented elections from being held on time, and considering that the international community understands the position of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The Congolese president’s remarks have sparked widespread reactions within the opposition, with former deputy Claude André Lubaya, close to former President Joseph Kabila, stating that Tshisekedi seeks to increase political tension instead of responding to the people’s aspirations.
Lubaya stated that the constitution does not allow for bypassing it “in the name of a supposed popular will,” considering that the president’s statements reflect a clear intention to violate the constitution, especially after mentioning the possibility of being unable to organize elections due to the war. The Congolese opposition member questioned, “If the war prevents elections, how can a public referendum be organized then?”
