Cardinal Ambongo puts peace before constitutional reform

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

“Do we truly believe that changing the Constitution, which is being promoted 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 facing the Congolese people? Given the severity of the current situation, we see neither the need nor the urgency for constitutional change. The priority of the Democratic Republic of Congo is peace. That is why the National Episcopal Conference of Congo continues to work and will always commit to creating conditions for a comprehensive and inclusive dialogue,” Ambongo declared.

Opposition mobilises

This stance is also supported by the Lay Coordination Committee, the Cenco, and the Church of Christ in Congo, which also believe that constitutional reform is neither necessary nor urgent under current circumstances.

Marie-Ange Mushobekwa, former minister and senior member of the Common Front for Congo, the platform of former President Joseph Kabila, attended the celebration and reaffirmed her group’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 those 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 in the streets on July 8 to defend and protect our Constitution,” Mushobekwa recalled.

“We will be in the streets on July 8”

A similar message came from some citizen movements. Plamédie Bamata, from the Patriotism movement, called on Congolese youth to join the demonstration announced by the opposition on July 8.

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

After its adoption by both chambers of Parliament, the bill setting the terms for organising a referendum on constitutional change was transmitted to the President of the Republic for promulgation.

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

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