Brit captured and American among six killed in failed COUP in DR Congo after armed militia storms presidential palace
A BRITISH citizen has been captured and an American man killed after an attempted coup in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Six people died after an armed militia force stormed the presidential palace in capital city Kinshasa on Sunday.
At around 4am on Sunday morning, dozens of armed men clad in military gear and brandishing rifles attacked two major government buildings.
President Felix Tshisekedi’s official home and office – the Palais de le Nation – and the home of economy minister Vital Kamerhe.
Four of the attackers and two guards were killed in the shootouts that followed around the homes – spread about 1.2 miles apart.
The attack lasted around three hours before Congolese security forces won out.
DRC Army spokesperson Sylvain Ekenge said around 50 people have been arrested including three Americans and the Brit – allegedly second in command.
Ekenge said the group was made up of “several nationalities” and all of those arrested are being interrogated in custody.
They added: “An attempted coup d’etat has been stopped by the defense and security forces.
“Around 50, including three American citizens – were arrested and are currently undergoing interrogation by the specialized services of the Armed Forces.
“We also have a naturalized British subject, the number two of the group.”
US-Congolese politician Christian Malanga, 41, was named as the leader of the attempted coup.
Malanga, originally from Kinshasa, had moved to Salt Lake City in Utah with his family in 1998.
According to reports Malanga was a political extremist and had already attempted a coup in the country in 2017.
Along with his son Marcel, 21, and right-hand man American Benjamin Zalman-Polun, 36, he stormed the main government complex with other armed men.
Malanga was shot dead and “neutralised” during the violent clash that unfolded with Congolese cops.
Marcel, who grew up leading a seemingly normal life in Utah, is now being held prisoner in the African country.
Who was coup leader Christian Malanga and why did he storm the palace?
WHY did alleged coup leader Christian Malanga lead a coup in Congo?
Malanga was a wealthy businessman, politician and once a military official in the Congolese army.
He was a US citizen after his family secured political asylum there when he was a child.
He protested against parliamentary elections in the DRC in 2011 and was arrested under former president Joseph Kabila.
After his release he went to the US and founded an opposition party – the United Congolese Party (UCP).
Over the years he has campaigned for religious freedom in Africa and led anti corruption training for young Africans living in Europe.
Officials have said he attempted another coup in 2017.
During this attempt he chanted “New Zaire!” from inside the Palace.
The DRC was once called Zaire until 1965.
He told the camera: “We, the militants, are tired.
“We cannot drag on with Tshisekedi and Kamerhe, they have done too many stupid things in this country.”
President Tshisekedi was reelected in December last year following a vote that opposition groups said lacked legitimacy.
He is yet to form an official government.
Horrifying footage from the ground captured the chaos that unfolded in Congo after the coup.
In one clip armed guards could be seen dragging a barefoot man wearing just a t-shirt and trousers over a bridge.
He is later seen next to Marcel, who is being hauled along by another group of armed guards.
The first man appears to speak with a British accent as he tries to tell the officials he is unarmed, although it is not known whether he is the Brit being held under interrogation.
Witnesses saw around 40 people in at least seven vehicles attack Kamerhe’s home, armed with automatic weapons and drones.
The shooting at the minister’s home lasted almost an hour before security forces arrived.
Kamerhe and his family were not injured in the violence, but the two police officers guarding them were killed.
Bullet holes were visible on the walls and on cars at the politician’s home, and windows were broken, AFP reported.
A minibus in which the attackers arrived was also left abandoned in the street.
Bizarrely, the coup was announced on Facebook with images of the heavily armed men preparing to attack.
The assailants moved to the Palais de la Nation near Kamerhe’s home on the banks of the Congo River after the attempted hit.
Local media said attackers “forced the barrier” of the palace offices, which are empty at night and kept guarded.
According to the Sunday evening broadcast, other “attackers and mercenaries” were “pre-positioned in the swamps along the river”.
Once inside the palace, the attackers filmed themselves waving a flag of Zaire, the name of the DRC during the time of Mobutu Sese Seko, a dictator overthrown in 1997.
The group’s leader Malanga was filmed saying: “Long live Zaire, long live the children of Mobutu.
“Felix has fallen… We are victorious.”
Despite claims the president had “fallen”, the attackers were stopped when security forces stormed the palace, putting an end to the attempted coup.
The gunmen had apparently planned to attack the homes of new PM Judith Suminwa and Defence Minister Jean-Pierre Bemba – but got lost.
Ekenge said they “could not identify the home” of Suminwa and could not find Bemba at his residence.
British ambassador to the Congo, Alyson King said on X: “I strongly condemn the armed attacks perpetrated against Vital Kamerhe and the Palais de la Nation today at Kinshasa.
“My most sincere thoughts go out to the innocent victims and condolences to their families.”
Lucy Tamlyn, the US ambassador to the DRC, wrote on X today: “I am shocked by the events this morning and very worried by the reports of American citizens allegedly being involved.
“Rest assured that we are cooperating with authorities in DRC to the fullest extent possible, as they investigate these criminal acts and hold accountable any American citizen involved.”
The UK Foreign Office has been approached for comment.