DRC Army Neutralizes Coup Leader Christian Malanga, Arrests 50 Including Three Americans
In a dramatic turn of events, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) thwarted an attempted coup early Sunday morning, resulting in the death of the coup leader, Christian Malanga, and the arrest of approximately 50 individuals, including three American citizens. Gunfire erupted around 4 a.m. in Kinshasa, with armed men targeting the presidency and the home of Vital Kamerhe, a key political figure.
Malanga, a US-based Congolese politician, had previously attempted a coup in 2017. During this recent attempt, Malanga was killed during the assault on the Palais de la Nation, and one of the arrested Americans was identified as his son. The attackers’ motives were articulated in a live-streamed video on a Facebook page linked to Malanga, where he expressed frustration with the current government led by President Tshisekedi and Kamerhe.
In a concerning development, a shell fired from Kinshasa landed in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, causing injuries and highlighting the regional instability stemming from the failed coup.
US Ambassador Lucy Tamlyn expressed deep concern over the involvement of American citizens and pledged full cooperation with DRC authorities to investigate and hold accountable those responsible.
UN’s stabilization mission in the DRC, led by Bintou Keita, condemned the coup attempt and offered support to the Congolese government.
President Tshisekedi, who was re-elected in December and is yet to finalize his government, postponed the parliamentary election scheduled for Saturday, adding to the country’s political tension. Vital Kamerhe, a prominent figure and potential speaker of parliament, was also targeted in the attacks.
The situation remains tense as the DRC navigates the aftermath of the coup attempt, grappling with internal and regional security challenges while striving for political stability and governance.
