DRC referendum: National Assembly resumes review of bill on Friday after Constitutional Court reservations

The DRC National Assembly is resuming review on Friday, October 23, of a bill setting the conditions for organizing a referendum, after it was sent back to committee following reservations from the Constitutional Court. The PAJ committee is due to present its report, after which lawmakers will consider and adopt the bill article by article, nearly a month after the committee’s 15-day deadline expired. President Félix Tshisekedi returned the proposal, initiated by Paul-Gaspard Ngondankoy Nkoy Ea Loongya, to Parliament for reconsideration; it must next be reviewed by the Senate before being sent to the president for promulgation. The debate comes amid political tensions, with the opposition accusing the government of seeking to change the Constitution to extend presidential rule, an accusation rejected by the presidential camp.