In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a renewed debate over potential constitutional revision has emerged as the country approaches its next election in over two years. This discussion, however, has raised concerns that it could sidetrack attention from the critical issue of whether existing constitutional rules are being effectively applied. The Ebuteli Institute's latest report emphasizes this concern, suggesting that the ongoing political discourse may overlook fundamental governance challenges.

The report titled "Twenty Years of Constitution in the DRC: How the Practice of Power Has Weakened the Institutional Balance" sheds light on the disconnect between constitutional provisions and the actual practice of governance. The institute highlights that the inadequacies observed within the DRC's institutional framework are not merely rooted in the constitutional text itself, but more significantly in how those in power have interpreted and applied those laws. This interpretation has led to a radical reshaping of institutional strengths and weaknesses over the past two decades.

Ebuteli presents compelling statistics that underline the extent of governance issues, indicating that from March 2021 to December 2025, there have been numerous control measures and information mechanisms that, while intended to uphold constitutional governance, have been poorly implemented. This raises critical questions about the sustainability and integrity of the DRC's democratic processes as the nation prepares for what is likely to be a pivotal election cycle, emphasizing the need for a focus on practical governance rather than theoretical revisions.