DRC coup leader streamed Facebook Live from palace before his death: summary
What we know
- A U.S.-based Congolese politician in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Christian Malanga has been killed after an attempted coup at the presidency on May 19.
- Led by Malanga, armed men attacked the presidential palace in the city centre and the home of Member of Parliament Vital Kamerhe who is tipped to become speaker.
- Two guards at the presidency were killed during the attack and a member of the attacking team was neutralised in the incident.
- A Facebook video recorded live by Malanga before the incident was recovered after the attack, in which he indicated that the militants are tired and will not drag on with the president Felix Tshisekedi and the member of parliament Kamerhe.
- Reuters reports that 50 persons including three American citizens have since been arrested and are assisting with investigations by the specialised services of the Armed forces.
What they said.
U.S. Ambassador to Congo, Lucy Tamlyn has expressed shock about the alleged involvement of some American citizens in the attempted coup incident. “I am shocked by the events of this morning and very concerned by reports of American citizens allegedly involved. Please be assured that we will cooperate with DRC authorities to the fullest extent as they investigate these criminal acts and hold accountable any U.S. citizen involved in criminal acts,” she wrote in a post on X. Meanwhile, The Special Representative of the United Nations' Secretary-General in the DRC, Bintou Keita, has condemned the attacks. “The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General in the DRC and Head of #MONUSCO, @UN_BintouKeita, condemns with the greatest firmness the armed attack against the residence of the Honorable Vital Kamerhe and the Palace of the Nation,” the post on X read.
