The leaders of the opposition in the Democratic Republic of Congo have called for President Félix Tshisekedi to resign and for a massive protest on July 22 to demand his departure.

At a press conference in Kinshasa, the C64 opposition group said it would not back down and urged the population to organize a ‘massive mobilization’ to pressure Tshisekedi to step down.

‘This march will say no to a constitutional coup. No to the seizure of popular sovereignty. No to endless war and poor governance. It will say yes to the respect of the Constitution, yes to peace, justice, and democratic transfer of power,’ said Jean-Marc Kabund, opposition leader.

Tensions between the government and its opponents have been rising since the parliament, dominated by the ruling party, approved a proposal to extend Tshisekedi’s presidential term.

‘It cannot be a question of suspending citizens’ actions or engaging in dialogue until M. Félix Tshisekedi has publicly and definitively renounced his project for constitutional modification, which is dividing the nation and threatening the country with balkanization,’ added Kabund.

Tshisekedi, 63, has been in power since 2019 and his second and final five-year term was set to end in 2028.

He has not yet decided whether to promulgate this proposal.