Police fire tear gas at DR Congo protests against Tshisekedi third-term bid

September 15, 2026 at 10:58 PM2 min

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Police fired tear gas and arrested at least 10 people in Kinshasa on Tuesday as hundreds protested against proposed constitutional changes that could allow President Felix Tshisekedi to seek a third term. Demonstrations also took place in Lubumbashi and Uvira despite restrictions imposed by authorities. The unrest comes three weeks after Tshisekedi announced plans for a national dialogue, even as the country battles a spreading Ebola outbreak and ongoing conflict in the east.

Key Facts

At least 10 people were arrested during confrontations in Kinshasa on Tuesday, according to police.
Protests were part of a nationwide day of action called by the C64 coalition, which opposes constitutional changes that could allow President Felix Tshisekedi a third term.
DRC's parliament adopted a bill in June allowing constitutional changes to be put to a referendum.
Officials from the DRC and Rwanda are due to reconvene in Geneva on September 16 and 17 for talks on the 2025 Washington Accords.

The Protests

Hundreds of people protested in Kinshasa on Tuesday against proposed constitutional changes that critics say could allow President Felix Tshisekedi to seek a third term. Police fired tear gas and arrested at least 10 people during the confrontations. Demonstrations also took place in Lubumbashi, a major mining centre in the southeast, and in Uvira, despite restrictions imposed by authorities. The protests were part of a nationwide day of action called by the C64 coalition, which was forged by opposition forces to defeat Tshisekedi's attempt to change the constitution. Mohamed Eyenga of the Envol opposition party, a senior figure in the C64 coalition, said many activists were arbitrarily arrested, while provincial police commander General Blaise Kilimbalimba insisted that peaceful demonstrators had not been arrested.

Constitutional Change and Political Context

Congo's constitution currently limits presidential terms to two five-year increments. DRC's parliament adopted a bill in June allowing constitutional changes to be put to a referendum, and members of Tshisekedi's coalition have backed changes that would allow him to remain in office. Opposition parties and the powerful Catholic Church have condemned the proposal. The unrest comes three weeks after Tshisekedi announced plans for a national dialogue bringing together opposition parties, civil society groups and religious leaders, though the discussion would exclude the M23 and other rebel groups that control parts of eastern DRC.

Regional Conflict and Ebola

Fighting over the resource-rich eastern region has persisted for decades and flared up once more in 2024. Kinshasa accuses Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels, an allegation Kigali denies. Officials from the DRC and Rwanda are due to reconvene in Geneva on September 16 and 17 for talks on the implementation of the 2025 Washington Accords. The conflict has complicated the DRC's bid to suppress the Ebola outbreak, which is now the world's worst on record.