DRC’s 2028 succession fight intensifies as parliament passes referendum law

President Félix Tshisekedi’s push for constitutional reform has triggered a showdown over who may succeed him in 2028. Parliament passed legislation in June setting out conditions for organising a referendum, which includes a constituent assembly followed by a vote if state institutions suffer a “major dysfunction”. The Constitutional Court reviewed the law in July and ruled it complied with the constitution, while noting concerns about some of its provisions. On August 10, Tshisekedi asked the presidents of the National Assembly and Senate to reconsider the legislation in light of the court’s observations. The National Assembly said the fresh deliberation would be placed on the agenda for its September session. Under the current constitution, the president is elected for five years, renewable once, and the number and length of presidential terms are protected from revision. Tshisekedi is due to leave office in 2028 under these rules. In May, Tshisekedi told journalists he had not sought a third term but would accept one if the Congolese people wanted him to continue. Opposition groups said the remark revived fears that constitutional reform could open a path beyond the existing two‑term limit. Critics argue the referendum mechanism could eventually be used to alter the term‑limit protections that currently bar Tshisekedi from seeking a third term. The government presents the reform as a broader institutional overhaul, not an explicit bid to extend the president’s tenure. The main opposition coalition, known as C64 or the Article 64 coalition, says it will resist any attempt to use constitutional change to prolong Tshisekedi’s mandate beyond 2028. C64 announced a nationwide mobilisation for September 15, with demonstrations in Kinshasa expected to converge on the Palais du Peuple, the seat of parliament. In Goma and Bukavu, thousands protested on July 28 against the proposed changes and any effort to lengthen the president’s time in office. For C64, targeting the parliament is deliberate; the coalition wants to take its protest to the institution at the centre of the constitutional process. Opposition politician Jean‑Marc Kabund told Al Jazeera that no constitutional revision, referendum or legal manoeuvre should be allowed to circumvent the current constitution, warning that such a move during wartime could deepen divisions and threaten national cohesion. The constitutional dispute unfolds while the DRC fights a rebellion in the east led by the M23 group, which operates within the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC) and controls Goma and Bukavu. The government accuses Rwanda of supporting M23, a charge Kigali denies. The war is raising questions about the 2028 elections. Tshisekedi has said elections may not be possible if the fighting continues, arguing that organising a credible vote would be difficult while parts of the country remain outside government control. Political analyst Emmanuel Bugama, based in Bunia, told Al Jazeera that national interests should take precedence over political squabbles, stating “The nation’s best interests should take precedence over these political squabbles.” In Goma, civil society activist Gentil Mulume said any constitutional change that extended Tshisekedi’s mandate would not be recognised in territory held by M23 and the AFC, adding that such a move would deepen the split between government‑controlled and rebel‑held areas.