The military said the coup had been “nipped in the bud” by the military and its perpetrators, including foreigners, had been arrested.
Three people were reported killed in a gunfight between gunmen in military uniforms and the bodyguards of a top politician in the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo). The military described the incident as an attempted coup.
Two police officers and one of the assailants were among those killed in the gunfight that began early Sunday morning.
A spokesman for the Democratic Republic of Congo’s military said in a televised address that the perpetrators of the failed takeover, including several foreign nationals, had been arrested.
Brigadier General Sylvain Ekenji told reporters that the coup attempt was “nipped in the bud by the Congolese National Defense Forces and security forces.” [and] The situation is under control. ” Details were not disclosed.
The incident comes as President Felix Tshisekedi’s ruling party is in crisis over parliamentary leadership elections that were due to be held on Saturday but have been postponed.
The armed group said on social media platform
“His Highness Vital Kamerhe and his family are safe. Their security has been enhanced,” he wrote.
Democratic Republic of Congo media identified the man as a Congolese soldier. It is not clear whether the men in military uniform were trying to arrest politicians.
Footage believed to be from near the scene showed military trucks and heavily armed men parading through deserted streets nearby.
On Friday, Tshisekedi met with parliamentarians and leaders of the ruling Holy Alliance party in a bid to resolve the crisis in his party, which controls parliament.
“If these bad practices continue, I will not hesitate to dissolve the National Assembly and send everyone to new elections,” he said.
Tshisekedi was re-elected president in December in a chaotic vote, with opposition parties calling for a new vote citing a lack of transparency following disputed past elections in the central African nation. .
The U.S. embassy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo issued a warning and urged people to remain vigilant after “reports of gunfire.”
