“DRC: the army claims to have foiled a coup d’état
The spokesperson for the Congolese army, Brigadier General Sylvain Ekenge announced, in a brief message broadcast on public television, that the FARDC foiled a coup d’état this Sunday, May 19. Perpetrators of this act are arrested. The army reassures that the situation is under control and asks the people of Kinshasa to freely go about their business” (Radio Okapi, 19.05.2024).
“Around 4:30 a.m. on May 19, the residence of the Deputy Prime Minister of the Economy, Vital Kamerhe near the Palais de la Nation, was attacked by attackers from the New Zaire movement and gunfire was exchanged; armored vehicles were deployed from the Pullman Hotel to the presidential palace” (Pepele News, 19.05.2024).
Someone wanted the times of Mobutu Sese Seko to return, as the attacked the Presidential Palace and the residence of the Deputy Prime Minister Vital Kamerhe earlier this morning. Kinshasa and the rest of the Democratic Republic of Congo got a shocking morning tea, as the capital had sudden gunfire and usage of military power too.
Christian Malanga’s dream turned into a nightmare today. It is confirmed that he was killed during the events that unfolded during the day. The FARDC have taken control and arrested parts of the people who participated in the coup attempt. There been reports of foreigners participating and one is confirmed to be a U.S. citizen too. So, the “New Zaire” Movement has had a broad ability to get support and even people siding with it from far away.
Today Malanga was called the “President” by one of his sons who participated in the coup. Nevertheless, that dream was taken away quickly. Malanga will never see a “New Zaire”. Christian didn’t even get another day to spend in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
There is now talks that there is a need for a three day curfew and ensure the security organizations are destroying every part of the New Zaire Movement. That is needed, as they had enough faith and plans to attack the Presidential Palace. They would have continued and gone even further. Sooner or later, they would have announced over National TV and Radio that there was a new government in the Nation. They even said so in the Presidential Palace and said the nation was again “Zaire”.
This is a sad day… President Felix Tshisekedi and his allies should look at themselves tonight. They need to reflect on their governing and how they are running the nation. When someone is allowed and able to attack the capital like this today. The New Zaire Movement didn’t succeed, but it showed flex. It showed how they could do with little organization and some weaponry. Therefore, the ones in office needs to reflect and investigate how it even happened.
The New Zaire Movement, it’s whole plan and organization needs to be monitored, investigated and get intelligence on how they operated. Because you don’t dare to this without any sort of prior information and ideas on how to do it. That’s why this is bold and done in silence before they took aim.
We saw a brief moment of the return of Zaire. It is was short-lived and Christian Malanga will be known as a traitor and a man who betrayed the DRC. That’s who he was and he thought he could install himself as the Commander-in-Chief and the Head of State. However, that’s not how it works and it shows. Peace.
MinBane 