The Democratic Republic of Congo's National Assembly has sent back a proposed law on the organization of a referendum to the Political, Administrative, and Judicial (PAJ) committee for further deliberation. This decision was made on September 21, 2026, by the President of the National Assembly, Aimé Boji Sangara. The PAJ committee has 15 days to review and revise the law, taking into account the reservations expressed by the Constitutional Court.
The Constitutional Court had previously declared the proposed law constitutional but with several reservations. In August 2026, President Félix Tshisekedi had requested that the law be returned to parliament for further deliberation. The law aims to establish the conditions for organizing a referendum in the country. The PAJ committee must now incorporate the court's reservations and revisit 13 articles that require revision.
Once the PAJ committee completes its work, the revised law will be returned to the National Assembly for adoption. It will then be transmitted to the Senate for a second reading, in accordance with the legislative procedure. If passed by both chambers of parliament, the law will be sent to the President of the Republic for promulgation. This process is taking place during a parliamentary session marked by several institutional and electoral reforms.
The National Assembly had prioritized the review of the referendum law, along with electoral reforms and voter identification, during its September session. The proposed law on the referendum is one of several key legislative initiatives being considered by the parliament. The review process is expected to be completed within the next few weeks, allowing for the law to be passed and implemented.
The President of the National Assembly, Aimé Boji Sangara, announced the decision to send the law back to the PAJ committee during a plenary session. He emphasized the importance of addressing the Constitutional Court's reservations and ensuring that the law is consistent with the country's constitution. The PAJ committee is expected to work closely with the Constitutional Court to ensure that the revised law meets the required standards.
The review of the referendum law is taking place amid growing interest in the country's electoral processes. The law aims to provide a framework for the organization of referendums, which could potentially be used to amend the country's constitution or make significant changes to the electoral system. The National Assembly's decision to send the law back to the PAJ committee reflects the importance of ensuring that the law is carefully considered and revised.
The Democratic Republic of Congo's parliament is currently considering several key legislative initiatives, including electoral reforms and voter identification. The review of the referendum law is part of a broader effort to strengthen the country's democratic institutions and ensure that electoral processes are transparent and fair. The PAJ committee's work on the law is expected to be completed soon, paving the way for its adoption and implementation.
Key points
- The proposed law on the referendum was sent back to the PAJ committee for further deliberation.
- The Constitutional Court had declared the proposed law constitutional but with several reservations.
- The PAJ committee has 15 days to review and revise the law.
