The National Episcopal Conference of the Congo (CENCO) has issued a strong warning against proposed amendments to the February 18, 2006 constitution, calling such moves a potential threat to national stability and unity.

In a sharply worded statement, CENCO’s Secretary General Donatien Nshole condemned moves to alter locked constitutional articles, warning of “enormous risks, including the country’s potential balkanization.” The church leadership expressed deep concern that any constitutional review could open doors to extending presidential terms, describing such intentions as a direct violation of the republic’s founding agreement.

Nshole specifically criticized the newly enacted referendum law, adopted under the pretext of addressing legal vacuums. He argued that this legislation would enable a popular consultation to bypass constitutional safeguards, particularly Article 220, which protects key democratic principles such as term limits and presidential mandates.

According to the church, Article 220 serves as a critical safeguard against dictatorship and state capture. The bishops emphasized that any forced constitutional changes could trigger severe consequences, including ethnic tensions, civil conflict, and national fragmentation.

CENCO concluded its statement by asserting that there exists neither necessity, urgency, nor opportunity for constitutional reform. The church reaffirmed its commitment to the constitutional order established in 2006, stressing that peace, social welfare, national unity, and cohesion must remain the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s top priorities.