Kinshasa’s streets fell silent on Wednesday as the capital’s opposition-led city dead brought business and daily life to a near halt. The protest, orchestrated by the Coalition Article 64 (C64), aimed to force President Félix Tshisekedi to abandon his constitutional reform plans. While opposition leaders hailed a historic turnout, the government dismissed the impact and doubled down on its legislative agenda.
Residents described an atmosphere of unease, with heavy security deployments and shuttered businesses painting a picture of enforced stillness. One local resident shared, “Schools are closed. The streets are empty. People refuse to accept constitutional changes. If we didn’t resist, we’d be forced to work as usual. The people have spoken—they don’t want this.”
opposition declares victory amid tightened security
Opposition figures, including Prince Epenge, spokesperson for the Lamuka coalition, claimed a near-unanimous public response to the protest, framing it as a clear rejection of the president’s intentions. “The people of Kinshasa answered at 99.9%. By staying home, they didn’t just follow the opposition—they rejected Félix Tshisekedi’s authoritarian push to rewrite the Constitution for personal gain. The message is clear: the people have said no.
The government, however, countered these claims. Christian Lumu Lukusa, Vice President of the UDPS Youth League, insisted normalcy prevailed, accusing opposition leaders of stoking fear and violence. “Despite attempts to incite chaos, the people didn’t heed their call. Kinshasa is fully operational,” he stated, vowing to push forward with the reform.
government digs in heels over constitutional overhaul
The proposed changes, which will reportedly go to a referendum, follow the National Assembly’s adoption of a referendum bill on May 27. The government frames the reform as a necessary modernization of institutions, while critics argue it violates the current constitutional framework. With neither side backing down, political tensions are expected to escalate in the coming weeks.
As the standoff intensifies, Kinshasa remains a city divided—between a government adamant on change and a population that has, at least for now, made its stance unmistakably clear.
