Salomon Kalonda Warns Against “Constitutional Coups” and Calls for Stronger Electoral

Addis Ababa, July 11, 2026 - Congolese Senator Salomon Kalonda Idi Della has called for stronger protections for democratic processes in Africa, warning against what he described as the growing risk of “constitutional coups” during a parliamentary forum on intelligence, security, and electoral integrity held in Ethiopia. Speaking before the Ethiopian Parliament, the senator from Haut-Katanga used the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo as a case study, arguing that ongoing discussions around constitutional reform could potentially open the way for President Félix Tshisekedi to seek a third term, which he considers contrary to constitutional principles. Addressing the issue of public opposition to the reform initiative, Kalonda denounced what he described as repression against demonstrations organized by opposition groups and civil society. He accused the international community of remaining silent in the face of these developments, saying that such silence risks being interpreted as acceptance rather than neutrality. The senator drew a distinction between traditional military takeovers and what he called constitutional power grabs, arguing that the latter are more difficult to challenge because they operate through legal mechanisms while potentially undermining democratic principles. “There are no bad coups on one side and good coups on the other,” Kalonda argued, calling for equal international attention to all forms of unconstitutional changes of power. Beyond the Congolese context, the senator highlighted broader challenges affecting electoral credibility across Africa. He pointed to concerns over the independence of electoral commissions, the use of judicial institutions to exclude political candidates, and restrictions on internet access during electoral result announcements. According to Kalonda, these practices weaken public confidence in electoral systems and contribute to political instability on the continent. To address these challenges, the Congolese senator proposed several measures, including the creation of a permanent African electoral monitoring mechanism, greater investment in digital electoral sovereignty, transparent and inclusive electoral audits, and a parliamentary observation framework covering the entire electoral cycle from voter registration to the announcement of final results. He also linked democratic governance to economic competition, particularly in the mining sector, arguing that weak institutions and limited accountability can affect the ability of African countries to negotiate fairly with international economic partners. Through his intervention in Addis Ababa, Kalonda called on African institutions and international actors to strengthen democratic safeguards and ensure that electoral processes remain transparent, credible, and inclusive.