Three US citizens involved in foiled coup, leader killed: DRC Army
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A DRC official says a home of a parliament member was attacked leading to the death of two guards and an assailant.
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Street near the Palais de la Nation remained closed to traffic following the foiled coup on Sunday, May 19, 2024. (AFP)
A spokesperson for the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) army informed Reuters that the field leader of the failed coup on Sunday has been killed, and approximately 50 people, including three US citizens, have been arrested.
Tina Salama, a spokesperson for President Felix Tshisekedi, told the news agency that the presidential palace in the capital Kinshasa had come under attack on early Sunday, but the army had regained control.
Another attack occurred as well, targeting the nearby residence of Vital Kamerhe, a member of parliament expected to become the speaker, according to posts on Twitter/X by Kamerhe’s spokesperson, Michel Moto Muhima, adding that two guards and an assailant were killed in the event.
🔴 La résidence de l'honorable Vital KAMERHE a été attaquée vers 4h30', ce dimanche 19 mai 2024, par un groupe d'hommes armés en tenue militaire. Deux des policiers commis à sa garde, ainsi qu'un des un assaillant ont perdu la vie.
— Michel Moto Muhima (@MichelMoto1) May 19, 2024
L'honorable Vital KAMERHE et sa famille sont… pic.twitter.com/GV2UNsH7LX
Malanga had made a failed coup bid in 2017
Spokesperson Sylvain Ekenge said that a US-based Congolese politician was the leader of the attempted coup.
"[Christian] Malanga was definitively neutralised during the attack on the Palais de la Nation, a certain Aboubacar was neutralised during the attack on the residence of Vital Kamarhe the others – around 50 including three American citizens – were arrested and are currently undergoing interrogation by the specialised services of the Armed Forces," Ekenge told the news site.
A shell fired from the capital struck the city of Brazzaville in the neighboring Republic of Congo, injuring several people and resulting in one person being hospitalized, according to a statement from the Republic of Congo's government.
A Facebook page reportedly associated with Malanga broadcasted a live-streamed video of what looked like the attack.
The spokesperson also mentioned that Malanga initially tried and failed to stage a coup in 2017 and revealed that one of the arrested American citizens is Malanga’s son.
“We, the militants, are tired. We cannot drag on with Tshisekedi and Kamerhe, they have done too many stupid things in this country,” Malanga appeared to say in the video in Lingala.
In a social media post, US Ambassador Lucy Tamlyn said she is "very concerned" over reports that US citizens were involved in the attempted coup.
"Please be assured that we will cooperate with the DRC authorities to the fullest extent as they investigate these criminal acts and hold accountable any US citizen involved in criminal acts," Tamlyn said.
Je suis choquée par les événements de ce matin et très préoccupée par les rapports faisant état de citoyens américains prétendument impliqués. Soyez assurés que nous coopérerons avec les autorités de la RDC dans toute la mesure du possible alors qu’elles enquêtent sur ces actes…
— Ambassadeur Lucy Tamlyn (@USAmbDRC) May 19, 2024
The United Nations' stabilization mission in the country reported that its chief, Bintou Keita, strongly condemned the incidents and offered support to the Congolese authorities.
Re-elected in December, President Tshisekedi has yet to form a government six weeks after naming a prime minister.
