The Action des Patriotes pour l’Émergence du Congo (APEC) made a significant impact in Lubumbashi recently. During a massive gathering at the Gécamines stadium, the political movement led by Louis Watum Kabamba—and represented on the ground by interim president Dominique Unyon-Pewu—welcomed a surge of new members while taking a firm stance on the nation’s most pressing political debate: the need for a new Constitution.
The atmosphere in the copper capital was vibrant, filled with militants dressed in party colors and the sounds of the national anthem. For APEC leadership, this high level of mobilization confirms the party’s deep roots in Lubumbashi and widespread public support for the vision of their moral authority, Louis Watum Kabamba.
A call for institutional modernization
A high-level delegation traveled from Kinshasa, led by Dominique Unyon-Pewu, to oversee this political assembly. Beyond the celebration of new memberships, party officials used the platform to provide a detailed critique of the current institutional framework in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
APEC maintains that the political, economic, and security landscape of the RDC requires a transparent discussion about legal reform. Speakers emphasized that no foundational text should be set in stone when a society is evolving. They argued that pursuing constitutional change is not a threat to democratic principles, but rather a standard process in the growth of a sovereign nation.
Upholding national sovereignty
Addressing the crowd, Unyon-Pewu aligned APEC—a member of Félix Tshisekedi’s Union Sacrée—with the movement for constitutional change, citing the power of the people.
“The central question facing the Democratic Republic of Congo today is the amendment of our Constitution,” he declared. “APEC must be at the heart of this conversation. We look to Article 5, which grants the Congolese people the ultimate sovereignty to decide on constitutional matters. If the citizens demand this change, who can stand in their way? This is why APEC, under the guidance of Louis Watum Kabamba, stands firmly behind the project to modernize our laws.”
By filling the stadium to capacity, the party has demonstrated more than just local influence in the Greater Katanga region. It has positioned itself as a primary contributor to the national intellectual and political discourse, aiming to establish institutions that are more effective and better suited to the needs of all Congolese citizens.
