DRC's Tshisekedi Hints at Third Term and Possible 2028 Election Delay
Primary region Africa
Tags Elections · Policy · Diplomacy
Regions Africa
DRC President Félix Tshisekedi suggested he would accept a third term 'if the people wish' and raised the possibility of postponing the 2028 election if eastern conflict persists. A bill advancing through parliament would allow revision of term-limit clauses via referendum in cases of 'major institutional dysfunction.' Opposition leader Martin Fayulu accused Tshisekedi of plotting a 'constitutional coup.' Tshisekedi claimed U.S.-demanded reforms linked to the December 2024 Washington mineral access deal require constitutional revision. The DRC-Rwanda peace deal has failed to halt M23 clashes in the east.
Strategic interpretation
Tshisekedi's third-term maneuvering follows a pattern seen across Africa where leaders use constitutional amendments to extend their rule. The linkage to the U.S. mineral access deal creates a complex dynamic where Washington's critical minerals interests may conflict with its democracy promotion agenda. The ongoing M23 conflict in the east provides a convenient justification for emergency measures and election delays.