DRC civil society groups unveil ‘Kasangulu manifesto’ as citizen roadmap for national renewal

On Friday, 26 June 2026, civil society organisations under the Crisis Committee for Peace and Security in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (CCPS-RDC) officially launched a citizen manifesto in Kinshasa. Dubbed the ‘Kasangulu Manifesto’, the document is intended as a guiding framework for the country’s refoundation and recovery.

The manifesto emerged from a participatory process that brought together representatives from several provinces. It outlines a shared vision for national transformation, focusing on accountable governance, peace, security, social justice, citizen participation, education, health, economic development, environmental protection, and the rule of law.

Sylvie Nakweti, director of Communication, Advocacy and Documentation at DYCOD-RDC, opened the ceremony, praising the commitment of civil society to this national renewal effort.

Professor Iyoka Jean Bedel described the citizen manifesto as the result of an inclusive, pedagogical approach designed to provide the DRC with a foundation for reflection and action towards its rebirth.

“The citizen manifesto is the fruit of a pedagogical and inclusive process aimed at giving the Democratic Republic of the Congo a basis for reflection and action for its renaissance,” he said.

Me Patient Bashombe Matabishi, coordinator of the CCPS-RDC, formally presented the document. He stressed its historic significance, noting that the country is in deep crisis requiring national mobilisation.

“We launched today the citizen manifesto, called the Kasangulu Manifesto, because the commission’s drafting work took place in Kasangulu. This manifesto presents civil society’s vision for Congo’s recovery. We all agree that our country is going through a historic crisis. The question is how to emerge from it. The citizen manifesto is meant to be a response and a path to follow for the refoundation and recovery of Congo,” explained Me Patient Bashombe Matabishi.

He highlighted the symbolic timing of the launch, just days before the nation’s independence anniversary on 30 June.

“The choice of date is highly symbolic, coming on the eve of 30 June, the day we celebrate our country’s independence. We wanted to participate in the national debate and, above all, to make every Congolese aware of their responsibility before history. This debate must not be reserved for political actors alone. Congo belongs to all Congolese. First and foremost, the citizen manifesto is an expression of citizens. It is an appeal to all patriots to defend the Democratic Republic of the Congo,” said Me Patient Bashombe Matabishi.

Daie Mutombe Pierrot, president of the Onusiens congolais, presented the ideological current to accompany the manifesto’s dissemination—the Democratic Citizen Revolution, carried by the BLOC-RDC movement. Its goal is to promote active citizenship, good governance, and national sovereignty. On this occasion, Me Patient Bashombe Matabishi was elected president of BLOC-RDC, and Professor Iyoka Jean Bedel was named secretary general.

When asked about the ongoing debate over constitutional revision or amendment, the CCPS-RDC coordinator reiterated civil society’s stance. He emphasised the need for broad consensus on the so-called ‘locked’ constitutional provisions. He also reaffirmed the ambition of the citizen manifesto to be considered in the constitutional reform discussion.

“Revision is provided for by the Constitution itself. However, we believe that any approach that does not take into account all the provinces and does not contribute to strengthening national unity could lead to implosion. For us, the Constitution remains the fundamental tool of national cohesion. It is the main text that unites the entire Congolese people. Regarding the locked articles, which are at the heart of the debate, we think a consensus is essential,” declared Me Patient Bashombe Matabishi.

He added: “These provisions were locked through consensus, not by electoral means. In law, the principle of parallelism of forms means that only a consensus can overturn a consensus. In this dynamic, we want to make the citizen manifesto a founding text for the country’s future directions. It carries the vision we defend, as civil society and as a people, for the renewal of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”

The gathering brought together nearly 200 civil society organisations, community representatives, academics, trade unionists, lawyers, doctors, entrepreneurs, youth and women’s movements, human rights defenders, and local leaders. Participants praised the quality of the document and recommended launching a nationwide campaign to ensure its adoption across the country and within the Congolese diaspora.

Closing the event, the Crisis Committee for Peace and Security in the DRC urged all components of the nation to embrace the citizen manifesto as a major contribution to state refoundation, peace consolidation, and building a more just, prosperous, and democratic future for the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

This civil society meeting takes place amid the Rwandan aggression through the AFC/M23 rebellion, supported by Rwanda, as well as the activity of local and foreign armed groups. This situation worsens the humanitarian crisis, with rising numbers of internally displaced people and refugees, against a backdrop of shrinking international funding, stalled diplomatic initiatives, and ongoing hostilities in eastern DRC.

Additionally, the constitutional reform debate has given rise to two dynamics in the socio-political environment: the creation of the Article 64 Coalition for the Defence of the Constitutional Order (C64) and the Coalition of Congolese for the Change of the Constitution (C4). Each camp claims popular support to achieve its objectives.