Rabat – Government forces thwarted an attempted coup in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on Saturday night.
“An attempted coup d’etat has been put down by the defense and security forces. The attempt involved foreigners and Congolese. These foreigners and Congolese have been put out of action, including their leader,” stated Brigadier General Sylvain Ekenge, spokesperson for the Congolese army.
Reassuring the public, Ekenge said that “the armed forces of the DRC ask the population to go about their business freely and peacefully. The defense and security forces are in complete control of the situation.”
He did not provide further details about the thwarted coup.
Clashes were reported between men in military uniforms and guards at the residence of a local politician on Tshatshi Boulevard, around 1.2 miles from the presidential palace, an area that also houses several embassies.
The confrontation occurred amid a political crisis within President Felix Tshisekedi’s ruling party over an election for the parliament’s leadership, which was scheduled for Saturday but was postponed.
According to reports, armed men attacked the Kinshasa residence of Vital Kamerhe, a federal legislator and candidate for Speaker of the National Assembly, but were repelled by his guards, according to Kamerhe’s spokesperson, Michel Moto Muhima, who made the announcement on social media platform X.
“The Honorable Vital Kamerhe and his family are safe and sound. Their security has been reinforced,” Muhima stated.
Local media reported that the attackers were identified as Congolese soldiers, though it remains unclear whether the men in military uniforms intended to arrest the politician.
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The shootout, which began around 4:30 a.m. local time, resulted in the deaths of two police officers and one of the attackers.
Footage from the area showed military trucks and heavily armed men patrolling deserted streets in the neighborhood.
On Friday, President Felix Tshisekedi met with parliamentarians and leaders of the Sacred Union of the Nation ruling coalition in an attempt to address the internal crisis within his party, which holds a majority in the National Assembly.
Tshisekedi warned that he would not “hesitate to dissolve the National Assembly and send everyone to new elections if these bad practices persist,” signaling his determination to maintain order and stability in the face of political turmoil.
