The National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO) has issued a clear rejection of President Félix Tshisekedi’s push for constitutional reform. The Catholic leadership warns that such a move threatens the nation’s democratic foundation and could trigger widespread institutional chaos. This intervention intensifies a political debate that has gripped Kinshasa for months, adding a significant moral weight to the opposition’s arguments.
The Catholic Church leads the charge against constitutional revision
In a statement of unusual firmness, the Congolese episcopate deems any modification of the Basic Law ill-advised in the current climate. CENCO, a powerful voice in RDC public life, maintains that the 2006 Constitution remains the legitimate framework, born from a hard-won national consensus following years of transition. The clergy fear that any revision would ultimately serve to rewrite electoral rules in favor of the current administration.
President Félix Tshisekedi suggested in late 2024 that the country needs a new Constitution tailored to local realities, claiming the existing document was shaped by foreign interests and stalls national progress. While a commission is slated for 2025 to explore these changes, the prospect has deeply alarmed the Church, opposition figures, and civil society groups who see it as a potential power grab.
A political history defined by resistance to term extensions
This opposition from the bishops follows a consistent historical path. Back in 2015, during the era of Joseph Kabila, CENCO mobilized against attempts to alter presidential term limits. They also played a pivotal role in brokering the 2016 Saint Sylvester Agreement, which helped the country navigate a major political crisis. This history gives their current stance significant political weight and resonance across the country.
The bishops emphasize that the Congolese Constitution contains “locked” provisions, considered intangible, which include the number and duration of presidential mandates. Altering these safeguards would, in their view, open a political Pandora’s box. While the presidential camp argues the goal is to rethink the state’s architecture rather than extend a mandate, the Catholic hierarchy remains unconvinced, calling instead for a strict application of existing laws.
Beyond the legal arguments, the issue carries a high symbolic value in a nation where over 40% of the population identifies as Catholic. The bishops’ message is being amplified through Sunday sermons in various parishes, indicating a grassroots mobilization that extends far beyond the Church’s leadership circles.
A defining test for the governance of Félix Tshisekedi
Following his re-election in December 2023, Félix Tshisekedi holds a comfortable majority in the National Assembly, making the initiation of a revision process theoretically possible. However, the resistance from CENCO complicates this strategy. The head of state must navigate the influence of an institution whose moral legitimacy remains strong and whose positions are closely watched by international partners in Washington, Paris, and Bruxelles.
Analysts point out that this constitutional debate is unfolding during a period of intense insecurity in the east of the country, where the Congolese army is battling the M23 in North Kivu and South Kivu. Some observers worry that opening a constitutional front will distract from these urgent military and humanitarian priorities. Others suggest it may be a move to consolidate executive power amidst regional instability.
The coming months will determine whether the government proceeds with its timeline or chooses to delay. As Parliament, the Union Sacrée coalition, and civil society organizations take their positions, the episcopate has made it clear they will not be silent observers. This confrontation between Kinshasa and the bishops could fundamentally reshape the political landscape of the RDC for years to come.
