An attempted coup against President Felix Tshisekedi in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) capital, Kinshasa, was reportedly foiled by the country’s army this past Sunday. Composed of Congolese and international fighters, the coup attempt was succinctly addressed by the Congolese army’s spokesperson, General Ekenge, who confirmed the attempt’s failure in an official broadcast aired by DRC national television. The information was disclosed by the DRC army in an official statement and reaffirmed during an interview.
The coup’s attempt involved individuals forcibly entering the home of Vital Kamerhe, Tshisekedi’s former chief of staff and close ally. Eyewitnesses reported to the BBC that about 20 assailants, ostensibly dressed in army uniforms, initiated a gunfight as they broke into Kamerhe’s residence.
Initially depicted by local media as Congolese soldiers, the armed perpetrators were later revealed to have links with Christian Malanga, an opposition leader who had previously gone into exile. Malanga was seen in a live video of the coup attempt posted on social media, directly threatening Tshisekedi.
The Washington Post shed light on Malanga’s recent activity, stating he had declared himself a president-in-exile while being situated in the United States. He formed a political faction amongst the Congolese diaspora named “The New Zaire”. However, as AP News reports, Malanga was later killed at the presidential palace while resisting arrest by the palace guards, according to Brig. Gen. Sylvain Ekenge, spokesperson for the Congolese army.
In light of this event, Kamerhe’s spokesman Michel Moto Muhima reassured the public on a post on X (formerly Twitter), confirming that Kamerhe’s family was safe and under protection.
The incident occurs in the backdrop of a leadership crisis faced by President Tshisekedi’s governing party. This stems from the postponement of a parliamentary leadership poll originally scheduled for Saturday. A december re-election saw President Tshisekedi retain his administrative position, despite a chaotic vote and opposition’s demand for a fresh poll.
The African Union, a collective body that represents 55 African member states, openly condemned the attempted coup d’état, as indicated in their recent press release. Moussa Faki Mahamat, the Chairman of the African Union Commission, expressed his deep concerns over the situation, reiterating his condemnation of using violence to alter any African state’s governance.
As of the time of publishing, President Tshisekedi has yet to comment publicly on the situation.