Congo's Senate Moves Closer to Letting Leader Stay Longer

Political moves in Congo may soon let President Felix Tshisekedi stay beyond traditional term limits. The Senate just voted 89-0 to support a bill changing how the constitution works. This could reset his term count, letting him run again even though he’s now in his second term. The vote happened Monday with 20 senators skipping it entirely. Now, the president must sign the bill into law before it takes effect. Meanwhile, public anger is growing. Last week, people protested the bill in Kinshasa, the capital. Authorities responded with tear gas and live bullets, sparking clashes. At least one opposition figure, Delly Sesanga, claimed he was shot in the leg during the chaos. Local reports say demonstrators threw rocks at police lines. The opposition calls the idea dangerous and warns it could fracture the country permanently.The government’s party already pushed the bill through the lower house of parliament. Now, only the president’s signature stands between the change and reality. If he signs, Congo’s next election set for 2028 could include a new candidate list. Critics argue leaders shouldn’t rewrite rules just to extend their time in power. Supporters say the changes modernize how the country is run. Back in 2023, Tshisekedi won re-election under existing term limits. Now, if the bill passes, history might rewrite itself. The move follows trends seen across Africa where some leaders push constitutional tweaks to stay longer. But Congo’s people are pushing back hard, showing frustration with top-down decisions that ignore public voices.