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Opposition leader in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Delly Sesanga, has accused authorities of blocking his movement after he was reportedly barred from leaving the country and stripped of his passport at the airport, in what he describes as political intimidation amid rising tensions with the government.
Sesanga, who leads the Envol party and is a former minister and lawmaker, is a prominent figure in a newly formed opposition coalition resisting proposed constitutional reforms that could allow President Félix Tshisekedi to extend his term beyond his current limit.
Earlier this month, parliamentary developments saw lawmakers approve a bill paving the way for a referendum on constitutional changes. Critics argue the initiative could ultimately open the door for a third term for President Tshisekedi, whose second five-year mandate is due to expire in December 2028.
Sesanga told AFP that he was stopped at the airport on Sunday, where border officials confiscated his passport and informed him that he could not travel.
“It’s intimidation and a form of arbitrariness,” he said, adding that he was not given any formal explanation and was told to seek redress through the judicial system.
He further stated that he was travelling to Europe for medical treatment after sustaining leg injuries during a June 12 opposition rally in Kinshasa. That protest, organised to denounce what opposition groups called a “constitutional coup,” was dispersed by security forces, leaving several opposition figures injured.
The United Nations human rights office later condemned the reported death of at least one demonstrator during the clashes.
A source close to the matter confirmed Sesanga’s account, while a judicial source cited by Congolese state media said an investigation involving the opposition leader is currently underway.
Sesanga is part of the C64 coalition formed in May to resist constitutional amendments. The group has planned another demonstration for July 8, signalling further confrontation ahead of the 2028 electoral cycle.
