Violent clashes broke out in Kinshasa on Friday as thousands rallied against a proposed constitutional amendment that opponents warn could open the door for President Félix Tshisekedi to seek a third term.
The demonstration, organised by the opposition coalition C64, descended into chaos outside Parliament when protesters confronted pro‑government supporters. Police moved in with tear gas, scattering the crowd as tensions escalated.
Congo is already grappling with multiple crises including an Ebola outbreak and a worsening conflict with the Rwanda‑backed M23 rebels, one of more than 100 armed groups operating in the country’s volatile east.
Tshisekedi, 62, has been in office since 2019 and is due to complete his second five‑year term in 2028. While the constitution explicitly bars any revision of presidential term limits, a bill before the National Assembly would allow amendments in the event of a “major dysfunction” that paralyses state institutions potentially after a referendum. Opposition leaders say the move is a thinly veiled attempt to extend Tshisekedi’s rule.
The C64 coalition formed in May by previously divided opposition parties has labelled the proposal a “serious threat” to national stability.
Friday’s rally turned violent as opposition supporters clashed with pro‑government activists before police intervened. Among the injured was prominent opposition figure Martin Fayulu, runner‑up in the 2018 presidential election. Video posted on his official Facebook page showed him with blood around his eyes and on his shirt collar as supporters helped him through the crowd.
The unrest underscores the rising political temperature in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where fears of constitutional manipulation and deepening insecurity are fuelling public anger.
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