DR Congo army crushes coup attempt against Tshisekedi, eliminates two assailants
BERLIN, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 15: Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Felix Tshisekedi addresses the media during a press conference with the German Chancellor at the Chancellery on November 15, 2019 in Berlin, Germany. Tshisekedi, who took office in January of this year, is visiting France and Germany this week. (Photo by Michele Tantussi/Getty Images)
In a surprising event in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the army says it has thwarted an attempted coup against President Felix Tshisekedi in the capital, Kinshasa.
DR Congo army spokesperson Brig Gen Sylavin Ekenge announced on the state-run broadcaster RTNC TV that several suspects have been detained and the “situation is now under control.”
Ekenge named Christian Malanga, a U.S.-based Congolese politician, and other foreign fighters, who were later killed in a gunfire exchange for the coup plot.
His announcement came hours after armed men attacked the house of the former chief of staff and close ally to President Tshisekedi early on Sunday morning.
The potential coup plotters also occupied the office of the President of the Republic, which is located in the city centre.
Witnesses say a group of about 20 armed men in army uniforms attacked the residence,leading to an exchange of gunfire.
President Tshisekedi has not commented publicly on the situation.
Meanwhile, U.S. Ambassador Lucy Tamlyn to the DRC said in a post on social media that she was “very concerned” by reports that American citizens had allegedly been part of the event.
Also in a post on X, the United Nations’ stabilisation mission in the DRC said that its chief, Bintou Keita, condemned the incidents in the strongest terms and offered her backing to the Congolese authorities.
