On Sunday, officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) announced the arrest of multiple foreigners implicated in a foiled coup plot following a gunfight in the capital that resulted in three fatalities.
The brief official announcements failed to address concerns raised by the apparent amateurish tactics employed by the alleged coup plotters and their ability to breach one of Congo’s most fortified locations.
Brigadier General Sylvain Ekenge, spokesperson for the Congolese army, stated in a concise message on state television that the coup attempt had been swiftly thwarted by Congolese security forces.
The U.S. ambassador has since taken to Twitter to report receiving information suggesting the involvement of U.S. citizens.
Local media circulated footage showing two apprehended men with their hands clasped in a plea, alongside images of a passport indicating one individual as a 36-year-old U.S. citizen born in Maryland.
Reports from the media also suggested the arrest of three other Americans, although this information could not be independently verified.
“I am shocked by the events of this morning and very concerned by reports of American citizens allegedly involved,” tweeted Ambassador Lucy Tamlyn in French.
“We will cooperate with DRC authorities to the fullest extent as they investigate these criminal acts and hold accountable any U.S. citizen involved.”
Congo’s nearly 100 million inhabitants face endemic corruption and recurrent civil wars, leaving the majority in dire poverty despite the nation’s mineral wealth, including gold, copper, nickel, and cobalt — crucial for the global shift toward green energy.
Parliamentary elections scheduled for this weekend were postponed by President Félix Tshisekedi.
He secured a second term in a chaotic December election marked by poor organisation and a lack of transparency, drawing widespread criticism.
The incident, which resulted in three deaths, occurred at the residence of Vital Kamerhe, a parliamentary member seeking to become the speaker. It was allegedly targeted before the presidential palace.
Kamerhe’s spokesperson, Michel Moto Muhima, stated that two police officers from his guard and one attacker lost their lives in the incident.
The coup attempt was reportedly orchestrated by Christian Malanga, a 41-year-old man who established a political organisation among the Congolese diaspora in the United States.
He declared himself president of Congo in exile. Congolese intelligence had previously suspected Malanga of attempting to assassinate then-president Joseph Kabila, according to Dino Mahtani, a former senior UN official in Congo.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) reported the arrest of the foreigners allegedly involved in the failed coup attempt following a shootout in the capital that resulted in three fatalities.
The incident has raised questions about the tactics employed by the alleged plotters and their access to a highly secure site within Congo.
Congolese army spokesperson Brig. Gen. Sylvain Ekenge announced on state television that security forces swiftly quelled the coup attempt.
U.S. Ambassador Lucy Tamlyn expressed shock and concern over reports of American involvement in the events, promising full cooperation with Congolese authorities in the investigation and accountability process.
The incident reportedly unfolded at the residence of Vital Kamerhe, a parliamentary candidate, where three individuals, including two police officers and an attacker, lost their lives.
Christian Malanga, a 41-year-old individual based in the United States believed to have spearheaded the coup attempt has a history of political activity and has previously been linked to assassination attempts against Congolese leaders.
The fate of Malanga, along with other Americans allegedly involved, remains uncertain.
One of the arrested individuals, identified as Benjamin Zalman-Polun, is reportedly connected to Malanga’s business ventures in Mozambique.
Videos circulating on social media showed individuals in military attire at the presidential palace, chanting slogans and making threats.
The use of racist language in one of the videos has sparked further outrage and condemnation.
The videos posted online depict men without weapons, with one leaning against a wall, suggesting a lack of resistance or coherent plan.
In one video, a man believed to be Malanga shouts “Felix, you’re out” while armed individuals behind him casually check their phones or adjust their berets before unfurling a flag associated with Zaire, the country’s former name.
The apparent amateurism of the coup attempt and the ease with which the group accessed one of Kinshasa’s most heavily guarded government sites raised numerous questions among observers of Congo’s political landscape.
“Obviously Malanga has been used by somebody,” Mahtani said. “There’s many people unhappy with the president inside the Congo and ambitious powers outside the Congo who want him removed — and a lot of it connects to resource ambitions, including gold.”
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