KINSHASA, May 20, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - The DR Congo military on Sunday said it
had thwarted an "attempted coup" near the offices of President Felix
Tshisekedi in Kinshasa involving "foreigners and Congolese".

It happened in the early hours of the morning outside the residence of
Economy Minister Vital Kamerhe, in the Gombe area in the north of the
capital, near the Palais de la Nation that houses the president's offices, a
spokesman said.

"An attempted coup d'etat has been stopped by the defence and security
forces," said General Sylvain Ekenge in a message broadcast on national
television.

Shots were also heard near the Palais de la Nation at the time of the coup
attempt, according to a number of sources.

Later on Sunday, army spokesman General Sylvain Ekenge said several Americans
and a British man were part of the group involved in the operation.

The coup bid was led by Christian Malanga, a Congolese man who was a
"naturalised American" and had been "definitively neutralised" -- killed --
by the security forces, Ekenge said in a broadcast on Sunday evening.

The group was made up of "several nationalities", Ekenge said, adding that
around 40 of the attackers had been arrested, and four -- including Malanga -
- killed.

"We also have a naturalised British subject, the number two of the group,"
the spokesman added. Malanga's son, Marcel Malanga, was also among the
attackers, he said.

- Two police killed -

Kamerhe and his family were not harmed in the attack but two police officers
looking after them were killed, said a source close to the minister.

The group had planned to attack the home of the new Prime Minister Judith
Suminwa, and the residence of Defence Minister Jean-Pierre Bemba.

But they "could not identify the home" of Suminwa and had not been able to
find Bemba at his residence.

After the attack at Kamerhe's home, the group then went to the Palais de la
Nation, brandishing flags of Zaire, the name of the Democratic Republic of
Congo under the dictator Mobutu Sese Seko, who was overthrown in 1997.

"I am shocked by the events this morning and very worried by the reports of
American citizens allegedly being involved," Lucy Tamlyn, the US ambassador
to the DRC, posted on X, formerly Twitter.

"Rest assured that we are cooperating with authorities in DRC to the fullest
extent possible, as they investigate these criminal acts and hold accountable
any American citizen involved."

France's ambassador had reported automatic weapon fire in the area, urging
nationals to avoid it.

- Zaire flags -

During the day, certain streets near the Palais de la Nation remained closed
to traffic, but the situation appeared calm, AFP journalists reported.

"I'm a little afraid to move around like that in Gombe, there aren't many
people... But I have to sell my goods," bread-seller Jean-Mbuta said.

Videos on social media showed men in fatigues at the Palais de la Nation,
brandishing flags of Zaire.

The Zaire flag was mostly green while the DRC one is largely blue.

"The time has arrived, long live Zaire, long live the children of Mobutu," a
man who appeared to be the head of the group said in Lingala, a language
spoken in parts of the DRC.

"Felix has fallen... we are victorious," he added.

AFP was also unable to verify the videos.

Tshisekedi was re-elected at the end of December when he received more than
70 percent of votes in the first round.

The parties backing him won around 90 percent of seats in the parliamentary
elections held the same day.

But he is yet to form a government some five months after the elections.

Kamerhe on April 23 was named as a candidate for president of the National
Assembly, the DRC's main legislative body.