A proposed law on organising referendums is under examination in the National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), raising alarm among opposition parties who fear it is a backdoor attempt to revise the constitution. At issue is Article 220, which prohibits any changes to the duration or number of presidential terms — a clause opposition figures describe as a red line that President Félix Tshisekedi cannot alter through ordinary legislative means. Adding to suspicions, the parliamentary commission tasked with reviewing the bill is chaired by André Mbata, a senior figure in the ruling coalition who last month launched a broad public consultation on constitutional reform.