The leader of an attempted coup in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been killed and some 50 people including three American citizens arrested, a spokesman for the Central African country's army told Reuters.

Kinshasa

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Army reported it stopped an attempted coup. Army spokesman Sylvain Ekinge announced that the defense and security forces prevented the coup, which involved both foreigners and Congolese. Ekinge stated around 50 people were arrested, including three American citizens, and indicated that the leader of the operation, Christian Malanga, a U.S.-based Congolese politician, was killed.

Gunfire was reported in the capital city, Kinshasa, by a Reuters correspondent. According to Ekinge, armed men attacked the presidency in the city center and the nearby home of Vital Kamerhe, a parliament member who may become the speaker. Posts on X by the Japanese ambassador and Kamerhe spokesman reported that two guards and an attacker were killed in the attack on Kamerhe’s residence.

A live-stream video on Facebook showed Malanga inside the presidential palace shortly before his death, criticizing President Felix Tsisekedi and Kamerhe. Malanga expressed dissatisfaction with the socio-economic conditions in Congo and called for Tsisekedi's resignation. He was killed by authorities during the raid.

Tsisekedi was re-elected for a second term and has not yet named a new government. The coup attempt has left residents of Kinshasa with many questions, particularly regarding the security breach at the palace. U.S. Ambassador Lucy Tamlin expressed concern about the involvement of American citizens and pledged full cooperation with local authorities in their investigations. The United Nations Stabilization Mission in the DRC condemned the incidents strongly.



DR Congo army says it stopped coup attempt

The Democratic Republic of Congo Army says it stopped an attempted coup on Sunday. Here's army spokesman Sylvain Ekinge. The armed forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo inform our citizens and the international community that an attempted coup d'etat has been nipped in the bud by the defense and security forces. The attempt involved foreigners and Congolese. These foreigners and Congolese were put out of action, including their leaders. Ekinge told Reuters that some 50 people had been arrested, including three American citizens, and that the leader of the operation had been killed. A Reuters reporter said gunfire rang out around 4 a.m. in the capital, Kinshasa. Ekinge said armed men attacked the presidency in the city center. Another attack took place at the nearby home of Vital Kamerhe, a member of parliament who is tipped to become speaker. Accounts of the second attack came in posts on X by the Japanese ambassador and Kamerhe spokesman, who said that two guards and an attacker had been killed at the residence. Ekinge named the leader of the attempted coup as Christian Malanga, a U.S.-based Congolese politician. A live-stream video on Facebook showed Malanga inside the presidential palace shortly before he was killed by authorities. Malanga is seen railing against the Congo president Felix Tsisekedi and his ally Kamerhe, the suspected target of the reported second attack. We, the military, are tired. We can't put up with Tsisekedi and Kamerhe any longer. They've messed up this country too much. We've lived abroad, and when we see the social situation of a soldier's children, it's unacceptable. Felix must go. Felix, you're out. Tsisekedi was re-elected for a second term as president in December, but has yet to name a government. In the wake of the attack on Sunday, residents of Kinshasa were left with more questions than answers. We don't even know who these people are. What is happening in the country is not right. The palace of the nation has always been very secure. How did they get there? U.S. Ambassador Lucy Tamlin said in a post on social media that she was, quote, very concerned by the reported involvement of American citizens and that the embassy would cooperate fully with authorities in their investigation. The United Nations Stabilization Mission in the DRC said that its chief condemned the incidents in the strongest terms.

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