On September 22, 2026, supporters of President Felix Tshisekedi, members of the ruling party UDPS, took to the streets of Kinshasa, the capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The march, described as peaceful, aimed to show support for a constitutional change that would allow the president to run for a third term. The demonstrators, carrying party flags and banners, chanted slogans and sang songs, calling for the change.
The march was organized by the UDPS, which is currently in power, and was said to be supported by the city authorities. According to the party, the demonstration was meant to show that the supporters of President Tshisekedi are committed to the democratic process and want to see the president continue to lead the country. The march began near the president's residence and proceeded through the main streets of Kinshasa.
The demonstration comes at a time when there are growing tensions in the country over the president's plans to seek a third term. The opposition has expressed concerns that a constitutional change would allow President Tshisekedi to consolidate power and undermine democracy. A group of opposition parties, known as C64, held a separate demonstration on September 15, 2026, calling on the president not to seek a third term.
The issue of presidential term limits has been a contentious one in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The current constitution limits the president to two terms, but there have been efforts to change this to allow President Tshisekedi to run again in 2028. The president's supporters argue that the change is necessary to allow him to continue his development agenda, while the opposition sees it as a power grab.
The city authorities have given their support to the UDPS march, describing the party as one of the largest and most responsible in the country. The government has said that it will respect the outcome of any referendum on the constitutional change, which would need to be approved by the Constitutional Court.
The presidential election is scheduled for 2028, and the issue of term limits is likely to be a major point of contention in the run-up to the vote. President Tshisekedi has not yet officially announced his intention to seek a third term, but his supporters are already mobilizing to support him.
The march on September 22, 2026, was seen as a show of force by the UDPS and a demonstration of its ability to mobilize supporters. The party has said that it will continue to push for the constitutional change, which it sees as essential to the country's development.
Key points
- The march was peaceful and supported by the city authorities.
- The opposition has expressed concerns that a constitutional change would allow President Tshisekedi to consolidate power and undermine democracy.
- The presidential election is scheduled for 2028, and the issue of term limits is likely to be a major point of contention.
