According to a military spokesperson speaking to CNN on Monday, American citizens were involved in a failed coup attempt in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday, resulting in at least three deaths.
The coup aimed at the residence of Congolese politician Vital Kamerhe and the presidential palace.
The leader of the coup, opposition leader Christian Malanga, was killed in a gunfight with presidential guards, as reported by General Sylvain Ekenge. Ekenge also mentioned that Malanga was claimed to be a US citizen, although the State Department later stated they had no records of him.
“I can confirm that Christian Malanga was killed during the gunfire at the presidential palace,” Ekenge informed CNN. He also mentioned that Malanga’s son, Marcel, was among those taken into custody. Additionally, Ekenge identified three other Americans allegedly involved in the failed coup: Benjamin Reuben Zalman-Polun, Patrick Ducey, and Taylor Thomson.
Matthew Miller, a spokesperson for the US State Department, stated that they are aware of two more individuals “said to be” US citizens who are currently detained following the unsuccessful coup. However, Miller mentioned that privacy regulations prevented him from confirming whether the US had requested consular access to these individuals from the Congolese government.
The military spokesperson, Ekenge, informed CNN that Sunday’s event marked the second coup attempt by Malanga, who has since passed away. Malanga, a former Congolese military member, attempted a coup once before in 2017, but Ekenge did not elaborate on the details. Malanga, aged 41, had been living in exile in the US and was the leader of the United Congolese Party, which identifies as an opposition political party in exile.
In a video streamed live on his Facebook page, Malanga, accompanied by his son and other armed individuals in military clothing, criticized the government of Tshisekedi and politician Kamerhe, accusing them of making mistakes in the country. A statement from the DRC government praised the quick response of the country’s security forces, noting that two police officers guarding Kamerhe’s home were killed during the attack.
The Democratic Republic of Congo, the largest nation in Sub-Saharan Africa, is ranked among the world’s five poorest countries by the World Bank, despite its rich mineral resources. Some areas of the country are heavily influenced by armed militia groups, leading to deadly attacks on civilians as these groups vie for control of territory and resources.
Sub-Saharan Africa has experienced several coups, with the most recent occurring in Gabon last August, a neighboring country to the DRC. The African Union condemned Sunday’s coup attempt in the DRC and praised the response of the country’s security forces in restoring order.
