DRC's Senate Just Voted to Let Tshisekedi Reset His Term Limit Clock. The Opposition Walked Out Before the Vote.

By Asante Times Admin 

On Monday June 16, 2026, the Democratic Republic of Congo's Senate passed a bill that clears the path for President Felix Tshisekedi to seek a third term in office.

 

All 89 senators present voted in favor. The opposition was not in the chamber. They walked out weeks ago in protest and refused to participate in what they called a power grab dressed up as constitutional reform.

The bill itself is a technical text on the organisation of referendums. But its purpose is not technical. Under a new constitution enabled by this bill, Tshisekedi's previous terms would not count against him, effectively resetting the clock and allowing him to run again as if he were starting fresh.

Congo's constitution explicitly bars any revision of presidential term limits. The bill gets around that by allowing constitutional changes in the event of a "major dysfunction" paralyzing state institutions.

 

The country is fighting an Ebola outbreak and a decades long conflict with M23 rebels in the east. That is the dysfunction being cited.

Three days before the Senate vote, security forces fired tear gas and live rounds at demonstrators in Kinshasa who were opposing the changes. Several opposition figures were wounded.

 

The bill now goes to the Constitutional Court before Tshisekedi can sign it.

 

This is the same week Zimbabwe passed a similar bill in its own parliament. Two countries. One week. Same playbook.

 

Africa's constitutions are only as strong as the people willing to defend them. What do you think needs to happen next?