The ruling party in the Democratic Republic of Congo has strongly refuted opposition claims of repression following a June 12th protest against proposed constitutional changes. The protest, organized by the coalition “Article 64” (C64) and including parties led by figures like Martin Fayulu and Moïse Katumbi, aimed to oppose revisions to the constitution ahead of the 2025 presidential election. Following the demonstration, the opposition alleged injuries and a harsh dispersal of protestors. However, the ruling party leadership held a press conference accusing the opposition of fabricating accounts of injuries and misrepresenting the events to discredit President Félix Tshisekedi’s government. The accusations center on claims that the opposition exaggerated the severity of the response to garner public sympathy. This exchange marks a significant escalation in tensions surrounding the proposed constitutional reforms and the upcoming elections.