Three US nationals are among those behind the recent coup attempt in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Congo’s army said it foiled a coup attempt early Sunday and arrested the perpetrators, including several foreigners, following attacks on the presidential palace and the residence of a close ally of Congo’s president that left three people dead in the capital, Kinshasa.
Local media initially identified the armed men as Congolese soldiers, but then reported they were linked to self-exiled opposition figure Christian Malanga, who later posted a video on Facebook threatening President Felix Tshisekedi from within the presidential palace.
Malanga was killed at the palace after resisting arrest, Congolese army spokesperson Brig. Gen. Sylvain Ekenge told The Associated Press.
Ekenge said Sunday on state television that the attempted coup d’état was “nipped in the bud by Congolese defense and security forces (and) the situation is under control.”
He later told the AP that three Americans were among the perpetrators, including the son of Malanga.
U.S. Ambassador to the DRC Lucy Tamlyn said on social media that she was “shocked” and “concerned by reports of American citizens allegedly involved.” She said the U.S. would cooperate with Congolese authorities.
Clashes were reported Sunday between men in military uniforms and guards of Vital Kamerhe, a federal legislator and a candidate for speaker of the National Assembly of Congo, at his residence in Kinshasa, about 1.2 miles from the presidential palace and where some embassies are also located.
Kamerhe’s guards stopped the armed men, Michel Moto Muhima, the politician’s spokesperson said on the X social media platform, adding that two police officers and one of the attackers were killed in the shootout that started around 4:30 a.m.
Earlier, Malanga appeared in a live-streamed video at the presidential palace surrounded by several people in military uniform and said: “Felix, you’re out. We are coming for you.”
On his website, the opposition leader’s group — the United Congolese Party (UCP) — is described as “a grassroots platform that unifies the Congolese Diaspora around the world opposing the current Congolese dictatorship.”
Christian Malanga, 41, leader of the US-based United Congolese Party, was killed as his “band of 20 armed men” tried to force entry into the Palais de la Nation, the official residence of President Felix Tshisekedi.
Malanga led the coup with his United States business partner in mining and cannabis ventures in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Mozambique in the early hours of Sunday.
Malanga’s right-hand man was Benjamin Zalman-Polun from Maryland (US) identified in earlier reports as an American cannabis entrepreneur.
Malanga and Zalman-Polun were partners in mining ventures and the fast-growing electronic cigarette liquids sector. Zalman-Polun was also arrested alongside Malanga’s 20-year-old son.
Who is Christian Malanga Musumari, the leader of this morning’s attack in Congo?
Born in Kinshasa, February 2, 1983.
He is a former Congolese military officer who resides in the United States with his entire family.
He is currently president of the United Congolese Party (PCU), a national political party which he formed after his experiences during the 2011 parliamentary elections.
In 2013, he was named the first ambassador of the International Roundtable on Religious Freedom.
On May 17, 2017, New Zaire was officially born when President Malanga created a government in exile in Brussels
Having disappeared from the radar for several years, Malanga reappeared this morning at the Palais de la Nation during an armed attack orchestrated by its elements.
