International Media: New Falsifiers of Congolese Democracy?

On Tuesday, at the end of the Union Sacrée march in Kinshasa, Augustin Kabuya made a direct appeal to President Tshisekedi: “The time has come to help us change this constitution.” This statement, far from being insignificant, comes within a political context in which Congolese popular sovereignty is constantly questioned by part of the international community and Western media, who, under the guise of “objective” analysis, shape an opinion hostile to the government in place.

International media often present the debate on constitutional revision as a scheme by the regime to cling to power, deliberately ignoring the broad popular support enjoyed by the Union Sacrée. They downplay the legitimacy of popular mobilizations, prefer to give the floor to a fragmented opposition, and accentuate internal divisions, all the while glossing over the reality of a Congolese people who are largely in favor of stability and institutional renewal.

The political timeline, marked by the proposed referendum law and the tension surrounding Article 220, is systematically interpreted by these media outlets as a pretext for an “authoritarian drift.” Yet, such narratives only serve to fuel distrust towards national institutions, even as the government engages in an inclusive dialogue. The violence during opposition marches is amplified, the government's responsibility exaggerated, and any reform initiative is suspected of having anti-democratic motives.

In reality, the real issue is not the revision itself, but rather the appropriation of the debate by the Congolese people. By keeping the intentions of the government vague and mainly relaying hostile viewpoints, international media contribute to undermining the Congolese people's confidence in their own democratic process. By refusing to recognize the popular dynamic driving the renewal of the state, they position themselves as actors manipulating public opinion, to the detriment of national sovereignty.

It is therefore essential that the voice of the Congolese people, in all its diversity, be heard and respected—far from the biased narratives that seek to impose an external interpretation on a complex political and social reality.