DRC faces constitutional showdown as 2028 election and eastern conflict collide

President Felix Tshisekedi is slated to leave office in 2028 under the current constitution, yet his willingness to consider a third term has ignited a constitutional battle. In May he said he would not pursue another term but might accept it if the public wanted, reviving fears that reforms could eventually remove the two-term cap. Parliament approved legislation outlining a constituent assembly and referendum for "major dysfunction," which the Constitutional Court deemed compliant but raised concerns about, prompting Tshisekedi to ask the National Assembly and Senate to revisit the law.

Opposition coalition C64, invoking Article 64, plans a nationwide protest on September 15 targeting the Palais du Peuple, while thousands have already demonstrated in Goma and Bukavu. The dispute unfolds alongside an armed conflict in eastern Congo, where M23 and the Alliance Fleuve Congo control Goma and Bukavu, and the government blames Rwanda for support. Tshisekedi has proposed an inclusive national dialogue, excluding those he accuses of backing Rwanda, as analysts warn the political infighting could undermine national cohesion during war.