On Sunday, the Congolese army successfully thwarted a coup attempt targeting President Felix Tshisekedi. The attempted coup involved attacks on both the presidential palace and the residence of a key presidential ally, resulting in three fatalities in Kinshasa.
Initially, the attackers were identified as Congolese soldiers, but subsequent reports linked them to Christian Malanga, a self-exiled opposition figure. Malanga was killed during a confrontation with presidential guards when he resisted arrest.
Brigadier General Sylvain Ekenge, the army spokesperson, confirmed that the coup was “nipped in the bud” by the defense forces, who arrested several perpetrators, including three Americans, one of whom was Malanga’s son.
Ekenge also mentioned the situation was now under control, with footage showing military trucks and heavily armed soldiers patrolling the streets in the aftermath of the coup attempt.
Christian Malanga, in a video posted on Facebook, had threatened President Tshisekedi, declaring, “Felix, you’re out. We are coming for you,” which was recorded at the presidential palace surrounded by people in military uniform.
Malanga’s group, the United Congolese Party (UCP), describes itself as opposing the current Congolese regime and uniting the Congolese diaspora.
This incident occurs amidst ongoing political tension within Tshisekedi’s ruling coalition, the Sacred Union of the Nation, which faces a crisis over the postponed parliamentary leadership election.
Following the coup attempt, the United States Embassy in Congo issued a security alert, advising caution due to reports of gunfire in Kinshasa.
President Tshisekedi has not yet publicly addressed the events of the attempted coup. He had previously threatened to dissolve the National Assembly and call for new elections if internal conflicts within his party continued.
