Defence and security forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) thwarted an attempted coup early Sunday, Xinhua reported citing the army spokesperson Sylvain Ekenge.
Local media reported at least three deaths after a group of attackers descended in Kinshasa neighborhoods where politicians and diplomatic missions reside.
“The army reassures that the situation is under control and asks Kinshasa residents to freely go about their business,” Ekenge said in a message broadcast on public television, adding that several perpetrators of the act had been arrested.
According to witnesses, “violent gunshots” were heard around 3:30am (GMT) on Sunday near the residence of Vital Kamerhe, a federal legislator and a candidate for speaker of the National Assembly, the lower house of the country’s bicameral parliament.
The attackers also entered the Palais de la Nation, the symbolic headquarters of the DRC presidency in Kinshasa, and said via a livestream on Facebook that they were “fighting for the country.”
“The Congolese and foreigners involved have been put out of action, including their leader. The security forces have the situation under control,” said Ekenge without giving further details.
