KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo — The “Save the DRC” political movement has formally contested a presidential decree governing the organization and operation of the National Dialogue Organizing Committee, arguing that the framework established by President Félix Tshisekedi does not guarantee a “truly national and inclusive” dialogue.
In a press release published on September 13, 2026, the platform led by former President Joseph Kabila said the decree grants the Head of State decisive influence over the process, particularly through the procedures for appointing members of the Organizing Committee. According to the movement’s analysis, this arrangement leaves the President of the Republic with considerable decision-making power over a process that should be broadly consultative.
A Decree at Odds with National Cohesion?
The platform criticized the presidential approach as incompatible with the objective of national cohesion that the dialogue is ostensibly meant to serve. In its statement, the movement said the provisions of the decree do not meet the conditions it deems necessary for an inclusive political process.
The “Save the DRC” movement went further, questioning President Tshisekedi’s broader governance. It accused the current regime of prioritizing what it described as “the preservation of power and the interests of its inner circle.” These accusations reflect the platform’s political stance and are not supported by additional factual evidence in the press release.
Invoking Article 64
The movement argued that the decree confirms, in its view, the need to invoke Article 64 of the Congolese Constitution. That provision states, in particular, that “every Congolese citizen has the duty to resist any individual or group of individuals who seize power by force or exercise it in violation of constitutional provisions.”
In its statement, “Save the DRC” called on opposition members and other actors it describes as “resisters to tyranny” to frame their actions within a dynamic it presents as revolutionary rather than reformist. The movement declared its intention to defend the “Republican Pact” enshrined in the Constitution of February 18, 2006.
What the Decree Does and What It Doesn’t
The press release does not specify which provisions of the decree the movement finds most objectionable beyond the appointment procedures. It also does not offer alternative appointment mechanisms or propose specific amendments. The statement stops short of announcing concrete actions, instead framing its position as a call to opposition actors to adopt a more confrontational posture.
The National Dialogue Organizing Committee was established to prepare for a nationwide political dialogue, a process that has been a recurring feature of Congolese politics in recent years. Whether the current dispute will derail those preparations remains unclear.
A Widening Political Divide
The confrontation highlights the deepening rift between the Kabila-aligned opposition and the Tshisekedi administration. By framing its opposition in constitutional terms — and invoking the duty of resistance “Save the DRC” signals a shift from parliamentary or institutional contestation toward a more activist posture.
For now, the movement’s statement is a declaration of intent rather than a roadmap. But its invocation of Article 64 raises the stakes, suggesting that the battle over the dialogue’s framework may become a broader constitutional confrontation.
