Security Forces Disperse Demonstrations Over Proposed Constitutional Revisions in DR Congo

Street protests across the Democratic Republic of the Congo were met with a forceful security response on Tuesday, as police officers deployed across several urban areas to break up public gatherings. The demonstrations were organized to oppose proposed constitutional amendments that critics and opposition figures argue are designed to allow President Felix Tshisekedi to extend his rule into a third term.

In the capital city of Kinshasa, security forces fired tear gas into crowds of hundreds of protesters who had assembled to voice their rejection of the planned revisions. The confrontations quickly resulted in chaotic street scenes, highlighting the escalating domestic political friction within the central African country.

The crackdown led to the apprehension of at least 10 people during the unrest in the capital. Opposition rallies were not restricted to Kinshasa; demonstrations also occurred in the southeastern mining center of Lubumbashi as well as the eastern city of Uvira, despite strict administrative prohibitions that had been placed on public gatherings by regional authorities.

The day of widespread civil action was coordinated by the "C64" coalition, an umbrella movement established by opposition forces to challenge and defeat the government's attempts to alter the national constitution. Organizers had called on citizens across the country to participate in the nationwide mobilization to protect existing governance rules.

Opposition leaders strongly criticized the conduct of law enforcement during the events. Mohamed Eyenga, a senior figure in the C64 coalition and a representative of the Envol opposition party, condemned what he characterized as the arbitrary detention of numerous political activists who had joined the demonstrations.

Eyenga stated that opposition leaders were surprised by the massive joint mobilization of army personnel and police officers deployed across the streets specifically to prevent the peaceful assembly from taking place. In contrast, the provincial police leadership defended the security operations, with General Blaise Kilimbalimba maintaining that individuals engaged in peaceful demonstrations were not arrested by the authorities.

The controversy centers on the Democratic Republic of the Congo's legal framework, which currently restricts presidential tenure to two five-year terms. Opponents fear that the executive administration is attempting to dismantle these provisions to allow Tshisekedi to remain in power beyond his constitutional limit.

The legislative process surrounding the potential changes advanced earlier this year when the Congolese parliament approved a bill in June allowing proposed constitutional amendments to be put before citizens in a national referendum. Several political figures within Tshisekedi's governing coalition have since openly endorsed modifications that would enable the head of state to seek re-election.

The potential revision of the constitution has triggered stiff resistance not only from political opponents but also from the country's influential Roman Catholic Church, which has historically played a prominent role in national affairs and has voiced clear condemnation of the initiative.

The unrest on the streets follows an announcement made three weeks earlier by President Tshisekedi regarding plans to initiate a broad national dialogue. That initiative was framed as an opportunity to convene opposition parties, civil society organizations, and religious leaders to discuss ongoing state challenges.

However, the proposed dialogue framework explicitly excludes armed rebel groups operating in the eastern regions of the country, most notably the M23 movement. Conflict over the resource-rich eastern provinces has destabilized the DRC for decades, with hostilities escalating once again during a significant resurgence of fighting in 2024.

The ongoing regional conflict has fueled severe diplomatic animosity between Kinshasa and the government of neighboring Rwanda. The Congolese administration alleges that Rwanda provides direct military backing to the M23 insurgency, a charge that officials in Kigali continue to deny as peace commitments remain stalled.

In an attempt to address these persistent diplomatic and military challenges, representatives from both the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda are scheduled to meet in Geneva, Switzerland, on September 16 and 17. The bilateral discussions will focus on the stalled implementation of the Washington Accords negotiated in 2025.

The deepening political crisis arrives as the Democratic Republic of the Congo struggles against an unprecedented public health disaster, battling what has become the world's worst Ebola epidemic on record. The persistent insecurity and active warfare in eastern provinces have severely impeded health authorities and medical workers attempting to contain the viral spread.

The disease continues to affect remote northern and eastern territories where state authority remains exceptionally fragile and medical infrastructure is largely deficient after decades of militia activity. With the government simultaneously confronting armed conflict, a catastrophic disease outbreak, and mounting domestic resistance to constitutional reform, the nation faces compounding instability on multiple fronts.