On Monday, July 6, 2026, Senate President Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde launched the third edition of the Conference of Presidents of Provincial Assemblies (COPAP) in Kinshasa. Chaired by Papy Mantezolo, this four-day meeting aims to address constitutional reforms crucial to redefining the role of provincial institutions and stabilizing their relationship with the central government. Discussions will also cover the dissemination of the law on consultative popular referendums and the strengthening of oversight regarding provincial public investments. Furthermore, delegates will adopt a social charter to improve working conditions for the 780 provincial deputies, who are currently facing payment arrears. The ultimate goal is to consolidate decentralization and optimize local governance across the 26 provinces of the DRC.