Thousands of people took to the streets in the eastern Congolese cities of Goma and Bukavu on Tuesday to oppose proposed constitutional changes that critics fear could allow President Félix Tshisekedi to seek a third term.
Both cities have been under the control of the AFC/M23 rebel coalition since its rapid advance across North and South Kivu provinces last year.
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s parliament approved legislation in June allowing proposed constitutional amendments to be put to a national referendum. Opposition parties and civil society groups say the process could be used to remove or alter presidential term limits and clear the way for Tshisekedi to remain in office beyond his current mandate.
Similar opposition-led demonstrations were held in the capital, Kinshasa, on June 12, but were dispersed by security forces.
In Goma and Bukavu, demonstrators carried banners reading “No to constitutional change” and “No to a referendum and a third term,” according to Reuters witnesses.
Protesters also demanded that the United Nations lift sanctions imposed this month on AFC/M23 political leader Corneille Nangaa and the rebel coalition.
Congolese government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya accused AFC/M23 authorities of forcing residents to participate in the demonstrations. He made the allegation in a post on X.
An AFC/M23 spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The protests were held under police supervision despite a ban on public gatherings introduced to limit the spread of Ebola, witnesses said.
Authorities in AFC/M23-controlled territories declared the areas under their administration Ebola-free last month.