Three reported killed as DR Congo military averts ‘attempted coup’
Al Jazeera
Military says coup was ‘nipped in the bud’ by the forces and the perpetrators were arrested, including foreigners.
Three people have been reported killed in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DR Congo) capital following a shootout between armed men in military uniform and guards of a top politician – an incident the army described as an attempted coup.
Two police officers and one of the attackers were among those killed in the shootout that started early morning of Sunday.
A DR Congo military spokesman said in a televised address the perpetrators of the failed takeover, including several foreigners, had been arrested.
Brigadier General Sylvain Ekenge told reporters the attempted coup was “nipped in the bud by Congolese defence and security forces [and] the situation is under control”. He did not give further details.
The incident came amid a crisis gripping President Felix Tshisekedi‘s governing party over an election for the parliament’s leadership which was supposed to be held on Saturday but was postponed.
