Tshisekedi Sends Referendum Law Back To Parliament Amid Civil Society Pushback

Kinshasa, August 15, 2026 - President Felix Tshisekedi asked Parliament to reopen deliberations on a law setting the conditions for holding referendums, despite the text having already been adopted in identical terms by both chambers and found constitutional by the Constitutional Court.

The request, made in an August 10 letter to the presidents of the National Assembly and Senate, seeks to incorporate 13 reservations issued by the Constitutional Court directly into the bill. The National Assembly plans to place the matter on the agenda of its ordinary September session.

The law is politically sensitive because referendums could be used on issues including constitutional amendments, the transfer of the capital or changes to the country's territorial organization. Parliamentary officials have framed the move as an effort to improve legal clarity and reduce ambiguity before promulgation.

The review comes amid rising civil society opposition. On August 10, 65 Congolese civil society organizations urged Tshisekedi not to promulgate the referendum law, arguing that insecurity in eastern DRC, a severe displacement crisis and worsening socioeconomic conditions make the timing destabilizing.

The presidential UDPS party has defended a referendum framework as necessary to fill a legal gap and clarify mechanisms for popular sovereignty. The dispute adds to political uncertainty at a time when investors are already tracking governance risks, conflict in the east and pressure on public institutions.