In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the ruling regime’s political trajectory leaves no room for doubt. The recent constitutional court ruling has handed President Félix Tshisekedi a powerful institutional tool: the ability to bypass the two-term limit by imposing a new Republic. Cloaked in the guise of “modernizing” allegedly outdated laws, the government is systematically consolidating its grip on institutions and steering the country toward dangerous authoritarian drift.
On the ground, dissenting voices face systematic suppression. Peaceful opposition-led protests are met with violent police crackdowns, while arbitrary arrests of political figures and activists surge. Even the unequivocal condemnation from the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO) is brushed aside as Félix Tshisekedi barrels ahead with his third-term agenda.
As Kinshasa advances its constitutional overhaul to eliminate term limits, international partners—from Washington to Paris and Brussels—remain conspicuously silent. While condemnations of similar power grabs elsewhere in Africa are swift and vocal, the West’s muted response to Félix Tshisekedi’s third-term project raises troubling questions about double standards.
The regime justifies its moves under the pretext of “modernizing” outdated laws, yet the reality is a deliberate dismantling of democratic safeguards. Opposition protests face violent suppression, and critics—including the Catholic and Protestant Churches—are sidelined. The constitutional court’s ruling has become the regime’s crowning achievement, paving the way for a new Republic where term limits no longer apply.
Silence from global powers fuels internal repression
Western capitals argue that Tshisekedi remains a bulwark against regional instability, particularly in eastern DRC, where M23 rebels threaten to escalate conflict. But this realpolitik comes at a cost: millions of Congolese are denied their fundamental political rights as the regime prepares a constitutional referendum in a war-torn nation. Forcing such a vote in a fractured state risks further division and could accelerate de facto partition.
The international community’s failure to condemn these maneuvers sends a dangerous message: democratic norms can be sacrificed when strategic interests—like access to critical minerals—are at stake. The UN, European Union, and African Union now stand accused of abandoning the Congolese people to Tshisekedi’s authoritarian ambitions.
A reckless gamble with historic consequences
By refusing to challenge Tshisekedi’s third-term bid, global powers are playing a cynical game. The proposed referendum, set against a backdrop of war and state collapse in eastern provinces, would disenfranchise millions. It is not just a violation of constitutional principles; it is a blueprint for further instability.
For the Congolese people, the stakes could not be higher. If the international community continues to prioritize short-term geopolitical interests over democratic accountability, it will bear responsibility for the political chaos and potential fragmentation of the DRC. The time to act is now—before silence becomes complicity in tyranny.
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