Police crack down on protests against constitutional change in DR Congo

Demonstrations held across country against president’s proposed constitutional changes seeking third term.

People march during a protest organised by opposition parties against constitutional changes proposed by President Felix Tshisekedi, in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tuesday, September 15, 2026 [Samy Ntumba Shambuyi/AP]

Protests in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have spurned violent clashes as police cracked down.

Police fired tear gas as hundreds of people protested in the capital Kinshasa on Tuesday against proposed constitutional changes that critics worry could allow President Felix Tshisekedi to seek a ‌third term in power. The political unrest adds to DRC’s struggles as it faces a rapidly spreading Ebola outbreak and ongoing conflict in the east of the country.

At least 10 people were arrested during the confrontations, with demonstrations also taking place in the cities of Lubumbashi – a major mining centre in the southeast of the country – and 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 in a bid to defeat Tshisekedi’s attempt to change the constitution.

“Many of our activists were unfortunately and arbitrarily arrested,” said Mohamed Eyenga of the Envol opposition party, a senior figure in the C64 coalition, according to the AFP news agency.

“We were taken aback by the large deployment of the army and police to prevent this peaceful demonstration,” he said.

However, the provincial police commander, General Blaise Kilimbalimba, insisted that “peaceful” demonstrators had not been arrested.

Security forces take position ahead of a protest organised by opposition parties against constitutional changes proposed by President Felix Tshisekedi, in Kinshasa, DR Congo, September 15, 2026 [Samy Ntumba Shambuyi]

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.

However, the discussion would exclude the M23 and other rebel groups that control parts of eastern DRC. Fighting over the resource-rich region has persisted for decades, and flared up once more in 2024.

Kinshasa accuses Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels – an allegation that Kigali denies. Key commitments under a precarious peace process remain unresolved.

Officials from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda are due to reconvene in Geneva, Switzerland 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.

The disease has spread across conflict-plagued, remote eastern and northern regions, where armed groups have roamed for decades, the presence of the state is weak, and health infrastructure is largely lacking.

全国各地举行示威游行，抗议总统为谋求第三个任期而提出的宪法修改方案。

2026年9月15日星期二，在刚果民主共和国首都金沙萨，人们参加由反对党组织的抗议活动，反对总统费利克斯·齐塞克迪提出的宪法修改方案。[Samy Ntumba Shambuyi/AP]

刚果民主共和国（刚果（金））的抗议活动引发了暴力冲突，警方采取了镇压行动。

周二，数百名民众在首都金沙萨举行抗议活动，反对拟议的宪法修正案。批评人士担心，这些修正案可能允许总统费利克斯·齐塞克迪寻求第三个任期。警方发射催泪瓦斯驱散了民众的愤怒。这场政治动荡加剧了刚果民主共和国的困境，该国正面临埃博拉疫情的迅速蔓延和东部持续不断的冲突。

冲突期间至少有 10 人被捕，尽管当局实施了限制措施，但在卢本巴希（该国东南部的主要矿业中心）和乌维拉等城市也发生了示威活动。

这些抗议活动是“C64”联盟发起的全国性行动日的一部分，该联盟由反对派力量组成，旨在挫败齐塞克迪修改宪法的企图。

据法新社报道，反对党Envol的高级成员、C64联盟成员穆罕默德·埃延加表示：“不幸的是，我们的许多活动人士遭到任意逮捕。”

他说：“军队和警察的大规模部署来阻止这场和平示威，让我们感到震惊。”

然而，省警察指挥官布莱斯·基林巴林巴将军坚称，没有逮捕“和平”示威者。

2026年9月15日，在刚果民主共和国金沙萨，安全部队在反对党组织的抗议活动中部署到位，抗议活动旨在反对总统费利克斯·齐塞克迪提出的宪法修改方案。[萨米·恩图姆巴·尚布伊]

刚果宪法目前规定总统任期为两届，每届五年。

刚果民主共和国议会于 6 月通过了一项法案，允许将宪法修改提交全民公投，而齐塞克迪的执政联盟成员支持允许他继续执政的修改。

反对党和强大的天主教会都谴责了这项提议。

此次动乱发生在齐塞克迪宣布计划举行全国对话三周后，该计划旨在将反对党、民间社会团体和宗教领袖聚集在一起。

然而，此次讨论将不包括控制刚果（金）东部部分地区的M23和其他反叛组织。围绕这一资源丰富的地区的冲突已持续数十年，并在2024年再次爆发。

金沙萨指责卢旺达支持M23反叛武装，基加利否认了这一指控。脆弱的和平进程中的关键承诺仍未得到落实。

刚果民主共和国（刚果（金））和卢旺达的官员将于9月16日至17日在瑞士日内瓦再次会面，就2025年华盛顿协议的执行情况进行会谈。

这场冲突使刚果民主共和国遏制埃博拉疫情的努力变得更加复杂，而埃博拉疫情目前是世界上有记录以来最严重的疫情。

这种疾病已蔓延至饱受冲突蹂躏的偏远东部和北部地区，武装团体在这些地区横行数十年，国家存在薄弱，卫生基础设施也严重不足。