Third term bid in democratic republic of Congo sparks institutional crisis

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the current administration’s political trajectory leaves no room for ambiguity. A recent ruling by the Constitutional Court has handed President Félix Tshisekedi a powerful institutional tool: the ability to bypass the two-term limit by establishing a new Republic. Under the guise of ‘modernizing’ outdated laws, the government is systematically consolidating control over state institutions and accelerating the country’s dangerous slide toward authoritarianism.

Systematic suppression of dissent

On the ground, any form of opposition is being crushed. Peaceful protests organized by opposition groups face brutal police crackdowns, while arbitrary arrests of political figures and activists become increasingly common. Even the unequivocal condemnation from the National Episcopal Conference of the Congo (CENCO) has been summarily dismissed by the head of state.

Global partners turn a blind eye

As Félix Tshisekedi maneuvers to secure a third term, international partners in Kinshasa remain conspicuously silent, prioritizing short-term security cooperation over the democratic aspirations of the Congolese people. The current reticence from Washington, Paris, and Brussels is striking, especially when contrasted with the swift condemnation of other constitutional coups and power grabs across Africa.

Strategic silence fuels instability

Western chancelleries justify their complacency by pointing to the ongoing war in eastern DRC against M23 rebels. Viewing Félix Tshisekedi as a fragile bulwark against regional collapse, they overlook his authoritarian tendencies to safeguard access to critical minerals essential for the global energy transition. This calculus is a grave historical misstep—one that risks turning a constitutional referendum into a tool for disenfranchising millions in rebel-held territories and further fracturing the country.

By failing to send a strong diplomatic signal against the third-term project, the United Nations, European Union, and African Union have abandoned the Congolese people to Félix Tshisekedi’s tyranny. They send a damaging message: democratic norms can be violated when a regime aligns with short-term geopolitical interests.

A call for urgent action

The Free Democratic Alliance (FDA) warns that the Congolese people must not be held hostage by one man’s ambition or the cynicism of imperialist foreign partners. Should the international community continue to ignore the warnings of the Congolese people and the urgent pleas from Catholic and Protestant churches, it will share responsibility for the political instability and potential ‘Soudanization’ threatening to engulf the DRC. Now is the time to break the silence, uphold the sacred terms of the DRC Constitution, and demand an immediate halt to this disguised dictatorial transition.