Kinshasa, June 10th, 2026 (CPA).- Constitutional change is conceivable when it seeks to improve institutional efficiency and promote the country’s development, an emeritus professor said on Wednesday during his presentation at the National Scientific Conference held at the University of Kinshasa (Unikin) in the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
“From the perspective of legal management, a constitutional amendment may be considered when it aims to enhance institutional efficiency and the country’s development. However, such a reform must be cautious, consensual and respectful of fundamental democratic principles. Therefore, the issue is not simply whether one is for or against constitutional change, but whether any amendment serves the general interest of the DRC,” said emeritus professor Oscar Nsaman, Rector of Cepromad University. Speaking on the theme “Assessment of the 2006 Constitution of the DRC from the perspective of legal management: for or againstconstitutional change?”, Professor Nsaman stated that the 2006 Constitution had enabled the restoration of constitutional order, the separation of powers and the recognition of fundamental rights. “However, after several years of implementation, debates have emerged regarding its adaptation to current realities. (…) Some provisions present practical implementation challenges. The political, economic and security context has evolved since 2006. A reform could strengthen governance, institutional efficiency and decentralization,” he explained. According to him, legal management requires the continuous adaptation of legal norms to society’s needs. He further noted that the current Constitution already provides a relatively comprehensive legal framework, stressing that the main problem often lies in the failure to comply with existing laws rather than in their content.
Frequent amendments could also “create institutional instability,” he warned, advocating for “the protection of the rule of law and certain fundamental principles.” For three days, Congolese academics are meeting in three hubs located in Kinshasa, Lubumbashi and Kisangani as part of a scientific conference dedicated to assessing the Constitution of February 18, 2006, twenty years after its promulgation. The event is organized by the Ministry of Higher and University Education, Scientific Research and Innovation (ESURSI).