Kinshasa, June 24th, 2026 (CPA).- An extraordinary session of the Senate of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been announced for before July 10th, 2026, according to an information note consulted on Wednesday following an audience granted on Tuesday to the presidents of provincial assemblies by the Speaker of the Upper House of Parliament.
“Preceding an extraordinary session scheduled before July 10, a delegation of provincial assembly presidents was received in audience by Senate President Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde at the People’s Palace. The purpose was to present urgent challenges facing the provinces,” the note read. In preparation for this extraordinary session, the Senate, as an emanation of the provincial assemblies, has been seized of several concerns related to the dysfunction of certain provincial parliamentary institutions.
Key sensitive issues on the table
The delegation of provincial assembly presidents informed the Senate Speaker of a cash-flow crisis affecting provincial institutions, aggravated by salary and allowance arrears owed to provincial deputies. The elected officials requested the Senate’s involvement, as the chamber representing the provinces, to help mobilize the necessary resources.
They also expressed concern over what they described as repeated directives from the Ministry in charge of the homeland, which they consider contrary to the constitutional principle of administrative and managerial autonomy, and called for clarification to safeguard institutional independence. Regarding constitutional revision, the delegation highlighted the political weight of 780 provincial deputies, whom they consider a key stakeholder in the process. “The provincial assemblies comprise 780 deputies. This is a numerical force greater than that of the National Assembly and the Senate combined. Their voice cannot be ignored in the debate on the Constitution,” said Papy Matiezolo, spokesperson of the delegation and President of the Provincial Assembly of Kongo Central.
On the eastern conflict
The provincial assembly presidents reaffirmed their support for the Head of State’s vision aimed at restoring peace and strengthening national unity.
The meeting is part of a broader effort to consolidate political and social stability in the DRC through dialogue between the Senate and provincial institutions.
“The Senate must remain attentive to the provinces. This is where the stability of the Republic is at stake,” Mr. Matiezolo told the press.