President Félix Tshisekedi has said he may consider seeking a third term in office when his current mandate expires in 2028, but stressed that any extension would depend on the will of the people expressed through a referendum.
Under DR Congo’s constitution, presidents are limited to two terms. However, Tshisekedi said he would be open to continuing in office if citizens support the idea.
“I have not asked for a third term, but I’m telling you—if the people want me to have a third term, I will accept,” he said on Wednesday.
The president noted that the timing of the 2028 elections could be affected by ongoing conflict in the country’s east, where the M23 rebel group has seized parts of North and South Kivu, including Goma and Bukavu.
He warned that elections may not be possible if the conflict persists.
“If we cannot end this war, unfortunately, we will not be able to hold the elections in 2028,” he said during a press conference in Kinshasa.
The crisis in eastern DR Congo has continued for years, with government forces battling M23 rebels, widely accused of receiving backing from neighbouring Rwanda—an allegation Kigali denies, insisting its presence is defensive.
The United States recently imposed sanctions on some Rwandan military officials over their alleged role in the conflict, even as diplomatic efforts continue to restore peace in the region.
Tshisekedi also accused Rwanda of exploiting DR Congo’s mineral wealth and slowing progress in peace negotiations, despite a US-brokered agreement signed in Washington in December.
His comments come amid growing political debate at home over constitutional term limits, with opposition groups warning that any move to amend them would amount to a “constitutional coup.”
A bill currently before parliament seeks to define procedures for a possible referendum, which supporters say would strengthen democracy but critics argue could open the door to extending presidential tenure.
