In a packed Gécamines stadium in Lubumbashi, the Action des Patriotes pour l’Émergence du Congo (APEC) held a major political gathering that resonated across the region. Led by interim president Dominique Unyon-Pewu, the political organization founded by Louis Watum Kabamba welcomed a massive wave of new members while articulating a clear doctrinal position on the nation’s most pressing debate: the need for a constitutional reform tailored to the security and governance challenges of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

A call for institutional modernization

The atmosphere in Lubumbashi was electric, marked by patriotic anthems and a sea of supporters dressed in party colors. For APEC leadership, this high level of popular mobilization serves as evidence of the party’s deep roots in the copper capital and widespread public support for the vision of Louis Watum Kabamba.

A high-level delegation from Kinshasa, headed by Dominique Unyon-Pewu, led the proceedings. Beyond the celebratory nature of the recruitment drive, party officials used the platform to provide a critical analysis of the country’s current institutional framework. They argued that the political, economic, and security realities of the RDC require an end to political taboos regarding the fundamental law.

Speakers at the event maintained that no legal text should remain static in the face of societal evolution. They asserted that initiating a constitutional reform is not a challenge to democracy, but rather a standard exercise in the life of a sovereign nation seeking to improve its functionality.

Invoking national sovereignty

Addressing the crowd, Dominique Unyon-Pewu firmly aligned APEC—a member of the Union Sacrée supporting Félix Tshisekedi—with the movement for constitutional change, citing the principle of national sovereignty.

“The defining issue of the hour in the Democratic Republic of Congo is the amendment of the Constitution. It is impossible to discuss such a transformation without the involvement of APEC. We stand on Article 5 of the Constitution, which grants the Congolese people the ultimate authority to decide on constitutional matters. If the people are in favor, who can oppose them? Therefore, APEC, following the guidance of Louis Watum Kabamba, stands up to support the project for a new Constitution,” he declared.

By successfully filling the Gécamines stadium, the party has demonstrated more than just its mobilization capacity in Grand Katanga. It has established itself as a key participant in the national political and intellectual discourse, expressing a clear intent to help modernize the state and build institutions that better serve the aspirations of the Congolese people.