Union for Democracy and Social Progress Union pour la Démocratie et le Progrès Social | |
---|---|
Abbreviation | UDPS |
President | Félix Tshisekedi |
Founded | 15 February 1982 |
Split from | Popular Movement of the Revolution |
Headquarters | 546 avenue Zinnias, Limete, Kinshasa |
Ideology | Social democracy |
Political position | Centre-left |
International affiliation | |
Slogan | "Le peuple d'abord" ("The people first") |
National Assembly | 69 / 484 |
Website | |
www | |
The Union for Democracy and Social Progress (French: Union pour la Démocratie et le Progrès Social, UDPS) is a major political party in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Founded in 1982, amid the one-party rule of Mobutu Sese Seko and his Popular Movement of the Revolution, it is the country's oldest existing party. During the presidency of Joseph Kabila, it was the largest opposition party in the country.[1][2][3] The party identifies as social democratic.[4]
The party is led by Félix Tshisekedi, who has served as President of the DRC since his election in 2018. Tshisekedi's assumption of the presidency was the first peaceful transition of power in the country since it became independent from Belgium in 1960.[5] He was reelected in 2023.[6] His father Étienne Tshisekedi previously led the party.[1]