In a dramatic turn of events, the army of the Democratic Republic of Congo successfully foiled an attempted coup d’etat, as confirmed by military spokesman Sylvain Ekenge during a national television broadcast on Sunday. The coup plot included a brazen attack on the residence of Vital Kamerhe, a prominent political figure in the country.
Fortunately, Kamerhe emerged unscathed from the assault on his residence, as announced by his spokesperson, Michel Moto Muhima, on social media. The attack, which took place in the capital city of Kinshasa, resulted in the tragic loss of one assailant and two police guards. Ekenge revealed that the assault, orchestrated by a combination of domestic and foreign forces, was swiftly brought under control, without divulging further specifics. Government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya corroborated the official account of the incident.
Reports from Kinshasa-based media outlet Actualite.cd suggest that exiled politician Christian Malanga and his New Zaire movement may have orchestrated the attacks, referencing a live video stream on Malanga's Facebook page. The video depicted Malanga donning camouflage attire adorned with the Zairean flag, a nod to Congo's past identity under the regime of longtime dictator Mobutu Sese Seko. The involvement of Malanga and his movement in the coup attempt has not been addressed by President Felix Tshisekedi as of yet.
In a startling revelation, it was observed that at least three armed individuals in Malanga's live stream video donned uniforms bearing American flag patches. However, Bloomberg could not immediately verify this detail. The U.S. Ambassador to Congo, Lucy Tamlyn, expressed shock over the morning's events and conveyed apprehension over the alleged participation of American citizens. Tamlyn pledged full cooperation with Congolese authorities in investigating the criminal acts and ensuring accountability for any U.S. nationals implicated.
Efforts to reach Vital Kamerhe and his party leader, Billy Kambale, for comment were unsuccessful as they did not respond to phone calls and messages following the incident. Kamerhe's political influence spans nearly two decades, marked by significant roles in the country's governance. Despite facing setbacks such as a corruption conviction related to embezzlement from infrastructure projects, which was later overturned in 2022, Kamerhe remains a central figure in Congolese politics.
Having been a key figure in both former President Joseph Kabila's and President Felix Tshisekedi's circles, Kamerhe's political journey has been eventful. Initially supportive of Kabila's leadership, he later vied for the presidency against his former ally, finishing third in the 2011 elections. Subsequently, he assumed the position of chief of staff to President Tshisekedi, paving the way for a presidential bid in 2023 under a prior agreement.
Nevertheless, the corruption scandal that ensnared Kamerhe disrupted these plans, casting a shadow over his political aspirations. Notwithstanding these challenges, Kamerhe's significance in Congolese politics persists, exemplified by his role as deputy prime minister for the economy leading up to Tshisekedi's successful reelection in December. The recent attempted coup and attack on his residence underscore the volatile and contentious political landscape in the Democratic Republic of Congo.