Congo petition turns to parliament on constitutional revision

A petition backed by Congolese political activist Mardochée Nsele has moved into an institutional phase after being submitted to the National Assembly and the presidency, according to local outlet 7sur7, which reported that organisers say they have gathered 100,000 signatures in support of constitutional revision.

The filing shifts attention from mobilisation to procedure. Under Article 218 of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s constitution, a constitutional revision initiative can come from the president, the government, half the members of either parliamentary chamber, or 100,000 citizens acting through a petition addressed to one of the two chambers.

That procedural opening is likely to keep the debate active in parliament, where any petition must be weighed within the constitutional framework. Earlier in March, state agency had reported Nsele as saying the campaign had collected 50,724 signatures, suggesting the organisers were still building toward the threshold before this latest filing claim.

The next phase may prove more politically sensitive than the petition drive itself. Article 220 of the constitution states that the number and duration of presidential terms cannot be revised, placing a clear legal limit on any initiative that could be interpreted as extending the presidency beyond current constitutional protections.

For now, the petition appears to have opened a new political front rather than settled the question. Its significance will depend less on the headline signature claim and more on whether lawmakers treat it as a valid procedural step and how they interpret its compatibility with the constitution’s non-amendable provisions.