Institutional seizing under legal guise
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is witnessing a deliberate erosion of its democratic foundations. Under the pretext of constitutional modernization, President Félix Tshisekedi has secured a judicial ruling that paves the way for a new Republic, effectively dismantling the two-term limit—a move that blatantly violates the spirit of the Constitution.
Suppression of dissent and erosion of freedoms
On the ground, opposition voices are being systematically silenced. Peaceful protests face brutal police crackdowns, while activists and political figures face arbitrary arrests. The National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO) has unequivocally opposed these maneuvers, yet its warnings go unheeded by the administration.
International complicity in democratic backsliding
Strangely, the international community—from Washington to Brussels—has chosen silence over condemnation. This muted response starkly contrasts with the swift denunciations of similar constitutional revisions and coups across Africa, raising concerns about double standards in upholding democratic norms.
The justification for this inaction lies in the ongoing conflict in eastern DRC, where the M23 rebel group continues to challenge state authority. Western capitals view President Tshisekedi as a necessary, albeit fragile, bulwark against regional collapse, prioritizing strategic cooperation and access to critical minerals over democratic principles.
A dangerous gamble with regional stability
This calculated approach is not only shortsighted but perilous. Pushing forward with a constitutional referendum while large swaths of the eastern provinces remain outside state control disenfranchises millions of Congolese, risking the de facto partition of the DRC. Such a move would deepen instability and fuel further violence.
The United Nations, European Union, and African Union have failed to send a strong diplomatic signal against President Tshisekedi’s third-term ambitions. By remaining silent, these institutions tacitly endorse the erosion of democratic norms, sending a dangerous message: that geopolitical interests can justify the violation of constitutional safeguards.
A call for urgent action
Civil society groups warn that the international community’s inaction will have dire consequences. If the Congolese people’s pleas and the urgent appeals from the Catholic and Protestant Churches continue to be ignored, the resulting political instability could plunge the DRC into a cycle of violence akin to Sudan’s fragmentation.
It is not too late to reverse course. The international community must break its silence, uphold the DRC’s constitutional provisions, and demand an immediate halt to the authoritarian transition disguised as reform. The stakes could not be higher—for the Congo and for the region.