Mukwege Warns Tshisekedi Against “Drummers,” Criticizes Purge of Dissenting

Kinshasa, March 23, 2026 - Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dr. Denis Mukwege called on President Félix Tshisekedi to resist pressure from what he described as the “drummers” surrounding him, warning that these advisors pursue personal interests and could betray the President as others did during previous regimes. In a statement issued Monday, Mukwege urged the President to listen to his conscience and the voice of the people rather than the ambitions of loyalists promoting a third term, despite elections scheduled for 2028. “Tomorrow, they will be the first to stab you in the back, as certain bigwigs and leading figures of the previous regime did,” Mukwege warned. “Listen instead to your conscience and the voice of the people. Our freedom depends on it.” Political Consequences of Opposing Constitutional Change The Nobel laureate also criticized the resignations of two senior lawmakers who opposed the proposed constitutional amendment: Vital Kamerhe, former Speaker of the National Assembly, and Modeste Bahati Lukwebo, Second Vice-President of the Senate. Both stepped down after petitions were filed by colleagues aligned with the ruling party and the Sacred Union coalition. “By daring to oppose the proposed constitutional amendment while our country is at war, you had the courage to speak the truth, a sign of nobility for a representative of the people,” Mukwege said in an analysis published Monday. He lamented what he called a reversal of democratic principles, in which dissenting deputies and senators are sanctioned by the President for exercising oversight. Mukwege condemned the “hypocrisy” of colleagues who privately share the dissenting view but publicly align with the establishment. Third Term Debate and Political Tensions The DRC political landscape has become increasingly polarized over proposals to amend the Constitution of February 18, 2006, to allow a potential third term for President Tshisekedi. Opposition figures, including Delly Sessanga, have pledged to mobilize citizens and organize street protests to block any constitutional change. Meanwhile, supporters of the ruling UDPS party insist the amendment is necessary, describing Tshisekedi’s mandate not merely as a term in office but as a “mission” to complete. This debate has intensified political tensions and drawn international attention, with civil society leaders warning of threats to democratic governance and institutional integrity.