FARDC, the army of Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), have announced it has successfully thwarted a coup d’état attempt targeting the Presidential Palace in the early hours of Sunday, May 19.
Brigadier General Sylvain Ekenge, spokesperson for the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC), made the announcement in a brief message broadcast on National television.
General Ekenge revealed that the FARDC had acted swiftly to prevent the coup, with several perpetrators arrested during the operation. “The situation is under control,” he assured, urging the people of Kinshasa to freely go about their daily activities without fear.
The announcement comes after a night of gunfire in Gombe district, in the capital Kinshasa where an estimated twenty armed men, attempted to storm the residence of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for the Economy, Vital Kamerhe. The violent exchange resulted in the deaths of two police officers and one of the attackers.
According to high placed sources in FARDC Command, President Felix Tshisekedi was not in office when the attackers made an attempt at his office.
The same sources have told SoftPower News that armored vehicles were deployed from the Pullman Hotel to the presidential palace along Tshatshi Boulevard around 4:30 a.m. The Congolese military forces quickly secured strategic positions around key locations, including the Pullman Hotel and the Fleuve du Congo Hotel in Kinshasa. Witnesses reported that some attackers fled towards the Palais de la Nation, (Presidential Palace) where they were surrounded and apprehended.
The highly placed sources in Kinshasa have further told this news website that the attackers abandoned a minibus in the street and that among those arrested were individuals found with U.S. and Canadian passports. This is corroborated by online posts by independent reporters in DR Congo.
The attackers dressed in military uniform, with the Zaire flag, claimed in videos posted online that they sought “change in the management of the country.”
Vital Kamerhe and his family, though threatened, were seen in good health but in shock, according to relatives.
It is believed the attackers were led by Christian Malanga who according to FARDC top commanders, was gunned down during operations to thwart the coup.
Kinshasa residents were by press time filling up Stade (Stadium) Martyrs to watch artist Moise Mbiye.