Without the involvement of South and North Kivu Provinces, the referendum fronted by President Felix Tshisekedi wouldn’t be binding according to DRC’s Nobel Peace Prize Denis Mukwege.

“We cannot hold elections because there are two provinces  at war. If we cannot hold elections for this reason, then we cannot hold a referendum to amend the Constitution either, because these two provinces would also have to be able to vote,” explains Mukwege.

According to Mukwege, President Tshisekedi is ruling out holding the 2028 elections because of the occupation of the North and South Kivu provinces, the referendum must also wait until the end of hostilities.

Denis Mukwege denounces a “predation”, when he claims that minerals are leaving for Washington, but that security is still not palpable in the east.

“Regarding minerals, there are already batches of minerals leaving, but in return, we do not have security. And so, it is a diplomacy that could be described as transactional at the start, but today it looks more like predation, since we give, but in return we do not receive the desired security,” he said.