Congo tensions flare as opposition coalition prepares constitutional march

The political landscape in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is heating up ahead of a planned opposition march on July 22. Organized by the Coalition Article 64, the demonstration aims to pressure President Félix Tshisekedi to resign, accusing him of violating his constitutional oath by pursuing changes to the 2006 constitution.

In response to the opposition’s mobilization, tensions within the ruling coalition have intensified between two prominent figures: Augustin Kabuya, Secretary General of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) and Félix Tshisekedi’s party, and André Mbata, Permanent Secretary of the Sacred Union of the Nation (USN), the president’s platform.

Opposition march sparks intra-coalition rift

The upcoming demonstration, set to culminate at the Palais de la Nation in Kinshasa, has become a flashpoint for political maneuvering within the majority coalition. The opposition’s demands center on the president’s alleged betrayal of his constitutional mandate, following revelations of his intent to modify the foundational law.

André Mbata, currently on an official mission in Yaoundé, Cameroon, has taken a hardline stance, urging all USN member parties, associations, and personalities to participate in protests not only in Kinshasa but also in all 25 provincial capitals and the diaspora. His statement, delivered amid calls for a counter-march, frames the opposition’s initiative as an existential threat to Congolese democracy.

« Members of the USN must ignore any message that does not come directly from the Permanent Secretary, who is the official spokesperson for our coalition, » Mbata declared in a strongly worded statement. He accused unnamed actors within the coalition of attempting a « coup against the nation » by denying citizens their sovereign right to peaceful assembly.

Kabuya’s directive draws sharp rebuke

Augustin Kabuya, however, has taken a diametrically opposed position. In a terse statement issued on July 13, the acting president of the UDPS called on party members to carry on with their normal activities on July 22, explicitly warning against participating in the opposition’s planned routes.

« There is no march scheduled for that date, and members must avoid any routes that the opposition intends to use, » Kabuya asserted, a directive that appears to contradict the broader coalition’s stance. His message, perceived as demobilizing, drew immediate criticism from André Mbata, who accused Kabuya of making « premature and maladroit » statements that misrepresent the coalition’s unity.

« The USN encompasses over 900 political parties, associations, and groupings. It cannot be reduced to the position of one of its components, » Mbata countered. He emphasized that individual statements by coalition members do not bind the entire platform, particularly when those statements undermine collective action against what he describes as a coordinated effort to destabilize the country.

History of discord resurfaces

The public clash between Kabuya and Mbata is not an isolated incident but reflects deeper divisions within the Sacred Union of the Nation. In April 2024, their rivalry came to a head during the election of the Sankuru provincial governor. Mbata openly opposed the candidate backed by Kabuya, instead supporting Jules Lodi Emongo, who ultimately won the election.

After the defeat, Kabuya publicly instructed UDPS members to cease paying dues to Mbata, asserting that only he was authorized to receive them. This episode underscores the ongoing power struggles and leadership conflicts that continue to plague the coalition as the 2028 elections approach and President Tshisekedi’s second and final term nears its end.

The escalating tensions between Kabuya and Mbata highlight the fragility of the ruling coalition and raise concerns about its ability to present a united front in the face of growing opposition pressure. As the July 22 march draws closer, the political stakes in the DRC have never been higher, with the potential to redraw the country’s constitutional and political future.