Senate Petition Targets Modeste Bahati Lukwebo Over Opposition to Constitutional

KINSHASA March 5, 2026 - Just a day after publicly opposing a proposed constitutional revision championed by President Félix Tshisekedi and the Sacred Union of the Nation, Modeste Bahati Lukwebo, Second Vice-President of the Senate and head of AFDC-A, has become the target of a formal petition in the upper house of Parliament. The initiative, led by Senator Dany Kabongo Bondanya, criticizes Bahati Lukwebo’s remarks as “completely inappropriate” and disrespectful to the President, particularly given his prominent role in both the Senate and the Sacred Union presidium. Kabongo emphasized that Bahati Lukwebo should have consulted the President, described as the “moral authority” of the Sacred Union, before expressing his personal opposition. During a press conference on March 4, Bahati Lukwebo had dismissed the debate over changing the Constitution as false and politically motivated, arguing that the real issue lies in the failure to implement the existing law, not the law itself. He called for political actors to focus on practical governance for the benefit of the Congolese people rather than pursuing constitutional amendments. The petition reflects growing tensions within the Sacred Union, with high-ranking figures such as Déo Bizibu, Secretary General of the UDPS, publicly criticizing Bahati Lukwebo’s stance as contrary to the coalition’s vision. Kabongo Bondanya promised a detailed statement outlining the grounds for possible removal from office ahead of the March parliamentary session. This unfolding dispute underscores the heightened political sensitivity in the DRC surrounding potential constitutional reforms and the balancing of authority between the President and senior members of the ruling coalition.