National Assembly adopts referendum law as opposition denounces a forced passage

The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s National Assembly adopted a law on 23 October setting out how a referendum would be organised, after incorporating reservations from the Constitutional Court. The bill returns to the Senate for a second reading before being sent to President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi for promulgation. The opposition, which boycotted consideration of the bill, denounced a forced passage and said the adoption could undermine the inclusive dialogue announced by the president. Christian Mwando of the Ensemble pour la République parliamentary group warned that the majority would bear sole responsibility for the law.