The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kinshasa The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s government forces effectively foiled an attempted coup on Saturday night, leaving the country on edge while officials try to restore order and look into those responsible.
“The security and defense forces have put down an attempted coup d’état. Congolese and foreigners participated in the attempt. Spokesman for the Congolese army, Brigadier General Sylvain Ekenge, said, “These foreigners and Congolese have been put out of action, including their leader.”
Ekenge gave the people confidence that everything was under control. “The people are requested by the DRC armed forces to conduct their business in peace and freedom. “The situation is totally under the control of the defense and security forces,” he said, declining to elaborate.
The event happened as political unrest among President Felix Tshisekedi’s party grew over a postponed leadership election for the parliament that was originally scheduled for Saturday. This unstable political environment has made the attempted coup even more serious and unnerved the people.
About two kilometers (1.2 miles) from the presidential palace and close to many embassies, there were reports of clashes between individuals in military uniform and the guards of a local politician at his home on Tshatshi Boulevard. According to his spokesman, Michel Moto Muhima, armed men broke into the Kinshasa home of Vital Kamerhe, a federal legislator and contender for speaker of the National Assembly of Congo.
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“The family of Honorable Vital Kamerhe is safe and sound. “Their security has been strengthened,” Muhima said on the X social media site.
It is yet unknown if the attackers were trying to apprehend Kamerhe, but local media recognized them as Congolese military. Two police officers and one of the attackers were slain in the ensuing gunfight at Kamerhe’s home. Around 4:30 a.m. (0330 GMT), on Tshatshi Boulevard, hostilities broke out.
Images from the region demonstrated the seriousness of the security breach, with military trucks and heavily armed troops patrolling empty streets in the neighborhood. The problem inside his party, which controls the national assembly, was discussed by President Felix Tshisekedi with lawmakers and leaders of the Sacred Union of the Nation ruling coalition on Friday.
“I would not hesitate to dissolve the National Assembly and send everyone to new elections if these bad practices persist,” President Tshisekedi said somewhat bluntly in his speech.
By Sunday, after the army declared that it had thwarted the coup attempt earlier in the day, Kinshasa, the capital of the Congo, seemed peaceful. But the attempted takeover has left a residual sense of discontent.
Gunmen numbering in the dozens broke into the president’s office and demanded his resignation. Confirming the coup planners’ detention was General Sylvain Ekenge. From Kinshasa, Africanews correspondent Chris Ocamringa said that the coup attempt occurred at the Palais de la Nation early on Sunday. President Felix Tshisekedi was not there when military-uniformed armed men broke into his office. Restoring peace in the city, the troops confronted the attackers and killed some of them.
Residents were incensed and worried about the tragedy and demanded diplomatic remedies as well as in-depth research into how the assailants were able to seriously compromise security. This coup attempt intensifies the already unstable situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which is simultaneously dealing with an armed conflict in the east. Fighting M23 insurgents in the North Kivu region, Congolese forces have uprooted more than a million civilians since last year.
The successful thwarting of the attempted coup highlights the unstable situation of security and government in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Tshisekedi government faces a difficult task because of the way that internal political unrest and foreign military adventures interact. In the next few months, the capacity of the government to preserve stability and deal with security and political challenges will be critical.
The DRC and its friends must be on the lookout for new stability dangers while investigations go on. The weekend events are a sobering reminder of the ongoing weaknesses in the country’s security system and the pressing necessity for extensive reforms to protect the future of the nation.
