The demonstration organised last Friday by the Article 64 Coalition (C64) turned into a confrontation.
While the opposition denounces a brutal crackdown by security forces, Kinshasa categorically refutes this version of events. For political scientist Christian Moleka, this sit-in nevertheless sends a strong signal to the authorities, especially as it comes after the general strike of June 3rd.
Kinshasa, at one point, underestimated the opposition. Internal assumptions prioritized the aggression at Highway 123, believing that it lacked the internal strength to counter its agenda. Now, I think they are strategically reassessing their position. As long as the opposition continues to gain strength and form a solid bloc internally, I believe it will push Kinshasa to revise its initial strategy, which was based on the observation that the opposition was divided and fragile, and that there was a clear path internally to push through the agenda, explains political scientist Christian Moleka.
Martin Fayulu now appears as the spearhead of the fight against the constitutional change. According to the analyst, the government is already suggesting collusion between the opposition leader and the clan of former president Joseph Kabila. Therefore, the government's narrative is currently attempting to construct a link between Martin Fayulu and the Kabila camp, particularly financial ties. If this theory were to solidify and be proven, it could justify his being linked, like others, to aggression and rebellion. The narrative also claims that the movement in Kinshasa is a kind of bridgehead for the instability in the East, brought to Kinshasa.
Just three days before this sit-in, the assembly overwhelmingly adopted the referendum law, a decisive new step towards a constitutional revision that could pave the way for a third term for Félix Tshisekedi. The text is currently under review in the Senate.
