After opposition parties in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) called for a city-wide shutdown, the streets of Kinshasa fell eerily silent on Wednesday. The Coalition Article 64 (C64), a united front of opposition groups, declared the protest to pressure President Félix Tshisekedi into abandoning his constitutional reform agenda. Yet, despite the show of defiance, the government remains unmoved, insisting the changes must proceed.
The opposition claims widespread public support for their cause, while the ruling camp dismisses the shutdown as ineffective and insists daily life in the capital resumed as normal by mid-afternoon.
Kinshasa grinds to a halt under tight security
Residents across Kinshasa heeded the opposition’s call, keeping businesses closed and staying indoors. The presence of heavily armed security forces added to the tense atmosphere, as streets that usually buzz with activity stood nearly deserted.
“You don’t see any students outside, no traffic at all. Schools are shut. We don’t want the Constitution changed. If we didn’t stand firm, we’d all be at work. The people refuse,” said one resident, reflecting the sentiment sweeping through neighborhoods.
Another local described the heavy-handed restrictions: “It’s suffocating here. Soldiers and police are everywhere, dispersing anyone who tries to move. No cars, no bikes—just closed shops. The situation is unbearable.”
Opposition declares historic turnout despite shutdown backlash
Leaders of the C64 hailed the protest as a major success, asserting that nearly all residents complied with their call to stay home. They vowed to escalate pressure on the government, framing the shutdown as a rejection of Tshisekedi’s alleged authoritarian push to alter the Constitution for personal political gain.
“The people of Kinshasa responded at a rate of 99.9%. By staying home, they didn’t just follow the opposition—they rejected President Tshisekedi’s dictatorial attempt to rewrite the Constitution to cling to power. The message is clear: the people who stayed home have rejected him,” declared Prince Epenge, spokesperson for the Lamuka coalition.
Government rejects opposition claims, vows to proceed with reforms
The ruling Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) dismissed the opposition’s narrative, insisting that normalcy returned to Kinshasa by afternoon. Christian Lumu Lukusa, UDPS Youth League Vice President, accused opposition leaders of stoking violence and spreading fear to justify their actions.
“Despite the panic they tried to create, the people did not follow their orders. Kinshasa is fully operational,” he stated firmly.
Lukusa reaffirmed the government’s commitment to pushing forward with the constitutional reforms, calling them essential for national modernization.
“The constitutional reform will move forward because it serves a national necessity and aligns with our goal of modernizing institutions,” he emphasized.
Looming referendum fuels political tensions
The government plans to submit the proposed changes to a referendum, following the National Assembly’s adoption of the referendum bill on May 27. However, opposition figures continue to condemn the move, arguing it violates existing constitutional provisions. With both sides dug in, further political clashes appear inevitable in the coming weeks.
