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President Felix Tshisekedi

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s political debate is increasingly turning towards 2028, even though President Felix Tshisekedi still has more than two years remaining in his current mandate.

Under the country’s existing Constitution, Tshisekedi is expected to leave office in 2028 after completing the maximum two-term limit. But uncertainty over what political and constitutional arrangements will shape the transition has already become a major source of tension between the government and opposition.

The debate intensified in May when Tshisekedi said he had not asked for a third presidential term but would be prepared to accept another mandate if Congolese citizens wanted him to remain in power.

His comments immediately revived opposition concerns that constitutional changes could eventually be used to alter the rules governing presidential tenure.

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Tshisekedi’s supporters have not necessarily presented the debate as an attempt to extend his rule. However, opposition groups remain wary of any constitutional reform process that could affect the existing two-term limit or create a political environment favourable to the president remaining in office.

The dispute is significant because Congo has a history of politically sensitive constitutional battles surrounding presidential succession.

The country’s Constitution currently limits a president to two terms. Any move to modify provisions connected to presidential tenure would therefore carry consequences far beyond the wording of a legal document.

For the opposition, the central concern is whether political institutions will remain strong enough to guarantee a credible transfer of power when Tshisekedi’s mandate expires.

The government and its allies, meanwhile, are likely to face growing pressure to explain what changes, if any, they envisage for the Constitution and why such changes would be necessary.

The controversy has emerged well ahead of the 2028 presidential contest, giving political parties time to position themselves and mobilise supporters.

That early start could make constitutional reform one of the defining issues of Congo’s political landscape long before voters return to the polls.

Tshisekedi became president in 2019 and secured another term in the December 2023 election. His second mandate therefore places the question of succession at the centre of political calculations among both his supporters and opponents.

For the opposition, Tshisekedi’s statement that he could accept another mandate has reinforced fears that a future referendum or parliamentary process could be used to revisit presidential term limits.

The president’s position, however, leaves open an important distinction between personally seeking another term and responding to a demand from citizens.

That distinction is unlikely to settle the political argument.

As 2028 approaches, every discussion about constitutional reform is expected to attract intense scrutiny because changes to the rules could influence who is eligible to seek power and how the transition is managed.

The debate also comes at a time when Congo’s political institutions are under pressure to demonstrate that constitutional limits apply regardless of the popularity or political strength of an incumbent.

For Tshisekedi, the coming years will therefore involve more than governing the country. His political choices and statements will increasingly be measured against the question of how he intends to leave office.

With the next presidential transition still years away, Congo has already entered an early contest over the rules of succession.

Whether that debate ends with the existing constitutional order intact or produces a push for significant reform could become one of the most consequential political questions facing the country before 2028.

The Traffic NG
President Felix Tshisekedi
Amarachi Ihesiulo
The Traffic NG

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