DRC President Felix Tshisekedi Rejects Referendum Project

• Sixty-five Congolese civil society organizations have called on President Felix Tshisekedi to abandon the proposed referendum project.
• The groups argue that the current security, social, and economic context is unfavorable for holding a referendum.
• The memorandum was addressed to the Head of State and key institutions on August 10, urging him not to enact the referendum law, which has been approved by the Constitutional Court and awaits his signature.

Sixty-five organizations signed a memorandum addressed to the Head of State and key institutions on August 10, urging him not to enact the law setting conditions for the referendum's organization, which has recently been approved by the Constitutional Court and awaits his signature.

Congolese civil society groups have called on President Felix Tshisekedi to abandon the proposed referendum project. Sixty-five organizations signed a memorandum addressed to the Head of State and key institutions on August 10, urging him not to enact the law setting conditions for the referendum's organization, which has recently been approved by the Constitutional Court and awaits his signature. The groups argue that the current security, social, and economic context is unfavorable for holding such an exercise.

The proposed referendum project has been met with opposition from various civil society organizations in the Democratic Republic of Congo. These groups have expressed concerns about the timing and feasibility of the referendum, given the country's current challenges. The law setting conditions for the referendum's organization was passed by the National Assembly on June 9, 2026, and subsequently approved by the Constitutional Court on July 29, 2026, and now awaits the President's signature to become law. The memorandum highlights the need for a more favorable context before embarking on such a significant exercise.

The fate of the proposed referendum project has significant implications for business operations in the DRC. If the project is abandoned, it may lead to changes in laws and regulations related to referendums. Lawyers and compliance officers will need to monitor the situation closely to understand any potential impact on their clients' activities in the country.

This development may require lawyers and compliance officers to monitor the status of the proposed referendum and its potential impact on business operations in the DRC, as well as any changes to laws or regulations related to referendums.

Source: Original reporting via RDC : 65 organisations de la société civile demandent à Felix Tshisekedi d’abandonner le projet de référendum