Three reportedly killed as DR Congo military repelled ‘coup attempt’ | Military News

According to the military, the coup was “nipped in the bud” by the armed forces and the perpetrators, including foreigners, were arrested.

Three people were reportedly killed in a shootout between gunmen in military uniform and guards belonging to a top politician in the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), an incident the army described as an attempted coup.

Two police officers and one of the attackers were also killed in the shooting, which began early Sunday morning.

A DR Congo military spokesman said in a televised address that the perpetrators of the failed takeover, including several foreigners, had been arrested.

Brigadier General Sylvain Ekenge told reporters the coup attempt was “nipped in the bud by the Congolese defense and security forces (and) the situation is under control.” He did not give any further details.

The incident came amid a crisis in President Felix Tshisekedi’s ruling party over a parliamentary leadership election that was supposed to take place on Saturday but was postponed.

The gunmen attacked the residence in Kinshasa of Vital Kamerhe, a federal lawmaker and candidate for speaker of the DRC’s National Assembly, but were stopped by his security guard Michel Moto Muhima, his spokesman said on the social media platform X .

“The Honorable Vital Kamerhe and his family are healthy and happy. Their security has been beefed up,” he wrote.

Media in the DRC identified the men as Congolese soldiers. It was unclear whether the men in military uniform were trying to arrest the politician.

Footage apparently from the area showed military trucks and heavily armed men marching through deserted streets in the neighborhood.

On Friday, Tshisekedi met parliamentarians and leaders of the Holy Union of the Nation ruling coalition to resolve the crisis within his party, which dominates the National Assembly.

He said he “will not hesitate to dissolve the National Assembly and send everyone to new elections if these bad practices continue.”

Tshisekedi was re-elected as president in December in a chaotic vote after the opposition called for a new vote because of what they said was a lack of transparency, reflecting previous trends in disputed elections in the Central African country.

The U.S. Embassy in the Democratic Republic of Congo issued a security alert and urged caution after “reports of gunfire.”