The Democratic Republic of the Congo will hold its next presidential and legislative elections on December 16, 2028, according to an electoral roadmap released by the National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) on April 4.
The roadmap outlines key milestones in the 2025–2029 electoral cycle, including the official launch of the presidential campaign on November 15, 2028. Preliminary election results are scheduled to be announced on January 17, 2029, with the Constitutional Court set to proclaim the final results two days later, on January 19. The swearing-in of the president-elect is expected to take place on January 20, 2029.
The DRC’s president is elected in a single-round majority vote for a five-year term, renewable once. Incumbent President Félix Tshisekedi was re-elected in December 2023 for his second and final term under the current constitutional framework.
In late 2024, Tshisekedi called for a review of the country’s Constitution, describing it as “the product of foreign intelligence designed to keep the DRC in a fragile state.” The proposal sparked speculation about his long-term political ambitions, with some accusing the president of attempting to extend his stay in power. Tshisekedi has publicly denied these claims, stating that the proposed changes “had no connection whatsoever with a third term.”
The release of the electoral calendar comes as the country continues to face political and security challenges, including calls for electoral transparency and growing pressure from opposition groups and civil society to safeguard democratic norms. With the timeline now established, political actors are expected to begin preparations in earnest for what could be a defining election for the future of the DRC’s democratic trajectory.
