2024 Democratic Republic of the Congo coup attempt | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Félix Tshisekedi Vital Kamerhe | Christian Malanga †[1] | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
Unknown | 50+ | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
2 police officers killed |
4 killed 50 captured[2] | ||||||
several civilians injured |
New Zaire Nouveau Zaïre | |
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Motto: "Justice – Paix – Travail" (French) "Justice – Peace – Work" | |
Anthem: La Zaïroise "The Song of Zaire" | |
Status | Unrecognized alternative government |
Capital | Kinshasa (claimed) Brussels (capital in exile) |
Official languages | French |
Government | |
• President (first) | Christian Malanga (2017–2024) |
Government in exile | |
• Government in exile proclaimed | 17 May 2017 |
19 May 2024 | |
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Presidential elections
5th President of DRC
2019–present
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On 19 May 2024, an attempted coup d'état took place in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).[3] Targeting President Félix Tshisekedi and his Economy Minister Vital Kamerhe, the assailants attacked both the Palais de la Nation and Kamerhe's residence. They were heavily armed and put up an intense fight at the Kamerhe home. At least one shell from the fighting detonated in the nearby capital of the Republic of the Congo (RC), Brazzaville, causing several injuries.
The coup attempt was foiled quickly by the security forces. The orchestrator of the coup was Christian Malanga, a Congolese native who lived in the United States as a political asylee; had founded a US-registered party, the United Congolese Party, in 2010; and referred to himself as the "president" and head of the New Zaire Government in Exile, which was proclaimed in Belgium in 2017. He was killed during the attempt.
apcoup
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).