Protests Erupt in Kinshasa Over Proposed Constitutional Changes

Violent clashes erupted in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on Friday. The unrest occurred during a protest against proposed constitutional changes that opponents argue could allow President Félix Tshisekedi to seek a third term.

The protest, organized by the opposition coalition C64, was dispersed by police using tear gas after demonstrators clashed with pro-government supporters in front of the Parliament. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is currently facing multiple crises, including an Ebola outbreak and a decades-long conflict with M23 rebels backed by Rwanda. These are among more than 100 armed groups competing for control in the eastern provinces.

Tshisekedi, aged 62, has been in office since 2019 and is set to complete his second five-year term in 2028. He has indicated a willingness to seek a third term if voters approve it in a referendum. The Congolese Constitution currently prohibits any revision of presidential term limits. However, a bill under consideration in the National Assembly, the lower chamber, would allow the president to alter these provisions in the event of a “major dysfunction” that paralyzes state institutions, potentially after a referendum.

The country’s main opposition parties, which have been divided in recent years, united in May under C64, or Coalition Article 64, to oppose what they describe as Tshisekedi’s attempt to stay in power. The coalition considers the proposed changes a “serious threat” to the country’s stability. Friday’s protest led to clashes between opposition supporters and pro-government activists before police intervened. Among the injured was Martin Fayulu, runner-up in the 2018 presidential elections and a prominent opposition figure in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. A video posted on his official Facebook page showed Fayulu with visible blood around his eyes and on the collar of his white shirt as his supporters helped him through the crowd.

This story was translated from English by an AP editor with assistance from a generative artificial intelligence tool.