DRC parliament passes referendum law as Tshisekedi third-term fears spark protests

September 16, 2026 at 01:17 AM1 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

The Democratic Republic of Congo's parliament has passed legislation setting terms for a constitutional referendum that could allow President Felix Tshisekedi to seek a third term. The move has triggered protests across the country and accusations of an attempted power grab. The crisis unfolds even as the DRC battles a conflict in the east and a rapidly spreading Ebola outbreak.

Key Facts

DRC's parliament has passed legislation setting the terms for a constitutional referendum.
President Felix Tshisekedi may seek a third term contingent on a constitutional amendment and referendum.
Protests have erupted across the DRC, with accusations of an attempted power grab.
The DRC is already dealing with a long-running conflict in the east and a rapidly spreading Ebola outbreak.

Referendum Legislation

The parliament has passed legislation setting the terms for a constitutional referendum. President Felix Tshisekedi could serve a third term contingent on a constitutional amendment and a referendum. The legislation has led to protests across the country and accusations of an attempted power grab.

National Crisis

The Democratic Republic of Congo is already embroiled in a long-running conflict in the east. A rapidly spreading Ebola outbreak is also affecting the country. The referendum crisis risks plunging the DRC into further turmoil.