The Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Congo, approved by the Congolese population through the referendum which took place on 18 and 19 December 2005, highlights, especially in its second paragraph, that the will that animated the primary sovereign to establish in the heart of Africa, the rule of law, and a powerful and prosperous nation founded on a genuine commitment to political democracy [...].” Furthermore, the Constitution forwards the notion of decentralization with, as a result, the free administration of provinces. But it also specifies the division of ter- ritory which increases the number of provinces from 11 to 26. Each of these provinces will have a legal character. On Thursday, October 29, 2015, by presidential order, Joseph Kabila appointed special commissioners and their assistants to lead the new provinces according to the last territorial reform. This individual administrative act divides the Congolese population. For some, this appointment is in line with the Constitution, while for others, it is an outright violation of the “law of laws.” This article has two main goals: firstly, it examines the controversial presidential Order with respect to the Constitution that was applied in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the principle of the rule of law. Secondly, this article suggests a number of political consequences that could result from the analysis presented here.

Key words: public law, constitutional law, constitution, constitutionalism, rule of law, decentralization and the free administration of provinces