Cardinal Ambongo urges peace over constitutional reform in DRC

Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo painted a grim picture of the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Speaking to the faithful at Notre-Dame du Congo Cathedral, the Archbishop of Kinshasa condemned the ongoing insecurity, armed conflicts, the presence of foreign forces on Congolese soil, the poverty of the population, and the resurgence of the Ebola epidemic. In this context, he argued that a constitutional revision is not a priority.

“Do we really think that changing the Constitution, which is touted as a solution to all these dark scenarios, do you really think that changing the Constitution, with the aim of a third term, is the most appropriate response to the tragedies of this Congolese population? Given the gravity of the current situation, we see neither the necessity nor the urgency of changing the Constitution. The priority of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is peace. That is why the National Episcopal Conference of Congo continues to work and will always commit to creating the conditions for a comprehensive and inclusive dialogue,” Ambongo stated.

Opposition mobilisation

The same position is held by the Lay Coordination Committee, the Cenco, and the Church of Christ in the Congo, which also argue that a constitutional reform is neither necessary nor urgent in the current context.

Present at the celebration, former minister and senior member of the Common Front for the Congo (FCC), the platform of former President Joseph Kabila, Marie-Ange Mushobekwa reaffirmed her structure’s opposition to any modification of Article 220 of the Constitution.

“Article 220 is untouchable and the Constitution clearly states that any elected president is entitled to a single renewable term. After these two terms, one must leave power and hand over to a successor chosen by the Congolese people. That said, all political parties and platforms that make up the FCC will now participate in all demonstrations to prevent any change to the Constitution. We will be on the streets on July 8 to defend and protect our Constitution,” Mushobekwa recalled.

“We will be on the streets on July 8”

The same message came from certain citizen movements. Plamédie Bamata of the Patriotism movement called on Congolese youth to participate in the opposition demonstration announced for July 8.

“We are determined to put an end to this third-term project for which Congolese have already shed much blood fighting for this Constitution to exist. We will be on the streets on July 8. We will march to the Palace of the Nation to demonstrate our discontent and say no to any project of balkanization of our country,” Bamata insisted.

After adoption by both chambers of Parliament, the bill setting the modalities for organising a referendum on constitutional change was sent to the President for promulgation.

The government and the majority present this law as a text intended to legally frame the use of the referendum.

The opposition, for its part, believes it could pave the way for a revision of the fundamental law.