Kinshasa : Congolese authorities announce having foiled a coup d’état

The DRC army claims to have “foiled a coup” on Sunday morning. Three gunmen were killed after a shooting not far from the presidential palace. INFO SOS Médias Burundi

The Congolese army said Sunday it had foiled a coup earlier in the morning. The perpetrators were arrested, including several foreigners, following a shootout between gunmen in military uniform and the guards of a senior political official in the capital, Kinshasa. The exchange of fire resulted in the death of three men, two police officers and one of the attackers.

“The coup attempt was nipped in the bud by the Congolese defense and security forces, the situation is under control,” said Congolese army spokesperson Brigadier General Sylvain Ekenge , during a press briefing. He did not give further details.

And he reassured the Congolese : “The defense and security forces have perfect control of the situation”, adding that vigilance remains essential to prevent any new attempt at destabilization. This declaration aims to reassure the population and reaffirm the commitment of the FARDC to maintaining peace and security in the country. Calm seems to have returned to Kinshasa, while the authorities continue their investigation to elucidate the circumstances of this attempted coup.

Vital Kamerhe’s residence attacked

The residence of Vital Kamerhe, current Minister of the Economy and very probably future speaker of the National Assembly, was the target of a violent attack in Kinshasa. According to the first information reported, the assault took place around 4:30 a.m. and continued until around 6:00 a.m., when another group of attackers was in full operation within the palace of the nation.
A commando composed of around twenty heavily armed men stormed Vital Kamerhe’s residence. For more than an hour and a half, intense exchanges of fire took place between the attackers and the guards of the residence.

Brazzaville affected

The government of the Republic of Congo announced on Sunday that a shell coming from Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, fell in Brazzaville, the Congolese capital. This incident occurred in the context of the foiled coup attempt in the DRC.

According to the Congolese government spokesperson, the explosion damaged four plots, and shrapnel affected around ten other surrounding plots. A few people were slightly injured, according to the press release.