DR Congo Army Stops Coup Attempt, Kills Mastermind

Emmanuel EjioforMay 19, 20241 Mins read1.1k

Christian Malanga (R) with him son (L)

The Congolese army has announced that it stopped a coup attempt early Sunday, arresting several perpetrators, including foreigners, in the process, after attacks on the presidential palace and the residence of a close ally of the president.

The incidents left three people dead in Kinshasa, the country’s capital.

A self-exiled opposition figure, Christian Malanga, was named as the mastermind behind the attempt to overthrow the Congolese president, Felix Tshisekedi. He was killed at the presidential palace after resisting arrest, according to Brig. Gen. Sylvain Ekenge, an army spokesperson.

Ekenge stated on state television that Congolese defence forces quickly suppressed the coup attempt and that the situation was under control. He further told the Associated Press that three Americans, including Malanga’s son, were among those arrested.

Earlier, Malanga appeared in a live-streamed video from the presidential palace, surrounded by people in military uniform, declaring, “Felix, you’re out. We are coming for you.”

President Tshisekedi has not yet addressed the public about the events.

Malanga, a former soldier, founded the United Congolese Party (UCP), which he described as a party opposing the “current Congolese dictatorship.”

In the first video, made earlier this morning at the Palais de la Nation, Christian Malanga (who is already called “President Malanga” by his son) and his men replacing the flags of the DRC 🇨🇩 with the flags from Zaire. And declaring a new Zaire republic.

In the second video.… pic.twitter.com/4n1KTNfEVX

— Typical African (@Joe__Bassey) May 19, 2024