A coup attempt in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: several Americans and a Briton are among its perpetrators, according to the army
A spokesman for the Democratic Republic of the Congo Army confirmed that several Americans, including “two white people” and a Congolese “naturalized Briton,” were among the perpetrators of the coup attempt that was foiled on Sunday morning in Kinshasa.
About forty attackers were arrested while four others, including their leader Christian Malanga, a Congolese citizen with US citizenship, were “neutralized” (killed) by security forces, police spokesman General Sylvain Ekeng said in the evening on national television. . of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC).
Video – Democratic Republic of the Congo: A “coup attempt” foiled in Kinshasa, according to the army
Several nationalities
The spokesman explained that the attackers, who attacked the home of a minister and the “Palace of the Nation,” which houses the offices of President Felix Tshisekedi, “belong to several nationalities.”
Besides Christian Malanga, “there is his son, whose name is Marcel Malanga, who was there” and “there are two other American nationals, white.” “We also have a naturalized British citizen, who is No. 2 in the group,” the general added.
Earlier today, the US Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lucy Tamlin, announced Congolese authorities. “Rest assured that we will cooperate with the DRC authorities,” she said.
The minister's house was attacked
The army spokesman said that Christian Malanga and his group “tried to attack the institutions.”
According to him, they initially intended to attack the homes of the new Prime Minister, Judith Sominwa, and the Defense Minister, Jean-Pierre Bemba. But they “could not identify the house” of the first and “did not find” the second in his house. Then they “attacked the residence of Vital Kamerhi,” the Minister of Economy, who was at his residence with his family.
A close friend of the minister said that he and his relatives were not affected, but two police officers protecting them were killed.
Flag of Zaire
In the morning, videos, apparently filmed by the attackers themselves and posted on social media, showed men in military uniform at the Palace of the Nation – where President Felix Tshisekedi was not present – waving the flag of Zaire, the former name of the Democratic Republic of the Congo at that time. Mobutu Sese Seko, dictator who was overthrown in 1997.
The citizens' movement Lucha (Fight for Change) demanded in a press release, “the necessity of a serious and in-depth investigation to shed light on this serious incident,” questioning in particular the apparent ease with which “heavily armed” men were able to enter the Palace of the Nation.
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