The Democratic Republic of Congo’s main opposition coalition, the C64 platform, postponed planned protests after President Félix Tshisekedi announced a national dialogue to address mounting political tensions. The decision followed appeals from influential Catholic and Protestant church leaders, who were asked to mediate the talks. Despite the pause, the coalition set an August 15 deadline for talks to begin, warning it could still mobilize supporters if Tshisekedi enacts a controversial referendum bill that was passed in June. If enacted, the bill could pave the way for constitutional changes that could allow Tshisekedi to extend his rule beyond the current two-term limit ending in 2028. The decision grants Tshisekedi valuable time to seek reconciliation. Meanwhile, the opposition risks internal divisions over its strategy, with some C64 figures criticizing the postponement as a premature capitulation.
RFI