2024 Democratic Republic of the Congo coup attempt

2024 Democratic Republic of the Congo coup attempt
Date 19 May 2024 Location Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo Result Government victory Coup attempt defeated Coup leader killed
Belligerents
Democratic Republic of the Congo Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Republican Guard Congolese National Police National Intelligence Agency	New Zaire Government in Exile United Congolese Party
Commanders and leaders
Félix Tshisekedi Vital Kamerhe	Christian Malanga †
Strength
Unknown	50+
Casualties and losses
2 police officers killed	4 killed 50 captured
several civilians injured

On 19 May 2024, an attempted coup d'état took place in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Targeting President Félix Tshisekedi and his Economy Minister Vital Kamerhe, it was foiled quickly by the security forces. The attempt was blamed on forces loyal to opposition politician Christian Malanga, the self-exiled leader of the United Congolese Party and self-proclaimed President of the New Zaire Government in Exile, who was killed during the attempt.

Background

The coup attempt occurred amid a political crisis that gripped President Félix Tshisekedi's ruling party. The crisis revolved around an election for the leadership of parliament, initially slated for 18 May 2024 but subsequently deferred. One of the targeted politicians was an ally of Tshisekedi, Economy Minister Vital Kamerhe, who was running for the presidency of the National Assembly.

Events

Fighting was reported in the capital, Kinshasa, in the early hours of 19 May, at approximately 04:30. Clashes between men wearing camouflage fatigues holding assault rifles and the security forces were reported near the Palais du Peuple, where the assailants managed to enter. Twenty others attacked Vital Kamerhe's residence at Tshatshi Boulevard in the Gombe neighborhood, but were foiled by his security guards. Gunfire was also reported near the Palais de la Nation, with bullet casings, bloodstains, and shattered glass being seen at its entrance. At least 50 people, including three US nationals were arrested in connection with the coup attempt. Some of them were also reported to be carrying Canadian passports.

The attackers displayed flags of Zaire, as the country was known during the dictatorship of Mobutu Sese Seko. Some of the attackers also wore patches with the US flag. They declared that they wished to see a regime change. Images circulating on social networks showed men in military fatigues, armed with AK47s and chanting "Tshisekedi out" in English. Malanga appeared on a livestreamed video on his Facebook page depicting him at the entrance of the Palais de la Nation flanked by men wearing camouflage with the Zairean flag. Malanga shouted: "Felix, you’re out. We are coming for you."

The Congolese army was subsequently deployed in Kinshasa along with armored vehicles. Roadblocks were installed near the Palais du Peuple and other parts of the capital.

Casualties

Two police officers who were guarding Kamerhe's residence and four attackers were killed during the coup attempt, including their leader, Christian Malanga. Several people were injured after a shell fired from Kinshasa flew across the Congo River and landed on a neighborhood of Brazzaville, the neighboring capital of the Republic of the Congo.

Investigation

Initial reports said that the attackers were members of the Congolese military before it was found that they were linked to Christian Malanga, a Congolese-American founder of a US-registered party, the United Congolese Party.

Army spokesman Brigadier General Sylvain Ekenge said at a media briefing later that a number of Americans and a British man were part of the group and that Malanga was killed after resisting arrest by the Republican Guard during the fighting at the Palais de la Nation, while his son Marcel, who held US citizenship, was also identified as a perpetrator. Ekenge said that the second in command of the group was also among the apprehended men, "a naturalised British subject". His name has not been revealed, the UK Foreign Office said it was aware of reports a British national was being held and was in contact with Congolese authorities.

The second US national was identified as Benjamin Reuben Zalman-Polun, a business associate of Malanga. Zalman-Polun graduated from the University of Colorado and attended business administration classes at Georgetown University. In 2015 Zalman-Polun pleaded guilty to drug trafficking. Zalman-Polun became a business associate of Malanga, through a gold mining company that was set up in Mozambique in 2022, according to an official journal published by Mozambique’s government, and a report by Africa Intelligence newsletter. On 21 May, Ekenge identified the third US national involved in the plot as Taylor Thomson.

Reactions

The army declared that the attempt was 'foiled' and 'under control'. The US embassy issued warnings of caution following the clashes, with ambassador Lucy Tamlyn saying that they were cooperating with Congolese authorities in the investigation and pledging to "hold accountable any American citizen involved". The French embassy warned against travelling to Gombe.

The head of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki, strongly condemned the attempted coup and welcomed its suppression by the Congolese security forces.