Congolese opposition politician Martin Fayulu has accused President Félix Tshisekedi of attempting to remain in power beyond constitutional limits following remarks suggesting he could stay in office if citizens requested it.
Speaking after Tshisekedi’s Wednesday press conference in Kinshasa, Martin Fayulu said the president’s comments were a clear signal that he intends to stay in power beyond the end of his second term in 2028.
Tshisekedi had told journalists that while he was not directly asking for a third term, he would accept remaining in office if the Congolese people requested it through democratic processes.
The Congolese constitution currently limits presidents to two terms, meaning Tshisekedi is expected to leave office in 2028 unless constitutional reforms are approved.
However, a proposed bill expected to be introduced in parliament could allow constitutional amendments through a referendum in cases where national institutions or government operations are considered under threat.
Fayulu described the proposed legislation as a deliberate political strategy aimed at allowing Tshisekedi to bypass constitutional term limits.
He accused the president of preparing what he called a “real constitutional coup” designed to extend his stay in power.
Félix Tshisekedi has increasingly defended the idea of constitutional reforms while arguing that the country faces exceptional security challenges, particularly in the east, where fighting involving M23 rebels and Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) militants continues.
Tshisekedi also recently suggested that the 2028 elections could be delayed if insecurity worsens in eastern Congo, remarks that have intensified political debate across the country.
The president remains popular among sections of the population for taking a stronger military stance against armed groups operating in eastern DR Congo, despite continued attacks and instability in North Kivu and Ituri provinces.
Fayulu, who finished third in the 2023 presidential election, has remained one of Tshisekedi’s strongest political critics and has repeatedly accused the government of undermining democratic institutions.
The growing dispute over constitutional reforms is expected to deepen political tensions in DR Congo as debate intensifies ahead of the 2028 election period.
