afrol News, 11 June - Presidential guards this night took control over state broadcasters in central Kinshasa in an attempt to stage a coup in Congo (DRC). As they proceeded to the residence of President Joseph Kabila, troops loyal to the President managed to thwart the coup, according to the Kinshasa government.
Congolese Information Minister Vital Kamerhe today said that there had been "a coup attempt" by rebel soldiers in the Congolese capital this night, but that loyal troops were now in full control and order had been re-established. Also President Kabila was in good shape and had not been injured during the gun fighting close to his residence.
Kinshasa residents this night could hear gunfight and heavy artillery being fired in central areas of the city and from military bases outside the centre. This morning, Kinshasa has been flooding with troops loyal to the President, involved in cleaning-up operations.
The rebel soldiers, described as renegade presidential guards, at 02:30 (local time) this night took over Kinshasa's state radio and television broadcaster. They made an announcement, saying the transition government had been "suspended" and that they had taken over control of the country. The announcement however was heard by few people.
From the state broadcaster, the rebel unit had headed towards the state electricity utility, switching off power supply for Kinshasa residents. The city was without electricity for about three hours.
Finally, the rebel troops went on to the presidential rebels, obviously planning to take President Kabila by surprise. Here, however, they met heavy resistance as armed fighting broke out. The rebels did not manage to enter Mr Kabila's residence. Meanwhile, troops loyal to the government retook the state broadcaster. The rebel troops finally were surrounded and arrested in the Tshatshi military base, just outside the city.
According to the Congolese government, the coup attempt was led by Major Eric Lengue, who also was said to have made the rebels' broadcasted announcement. Expect for Major Lengue's announcement, saying the current transition government had "failed", no further explanation has been given to the background of the coup attempt.
The alleged "failure" of the Congolese transition government is however seen in connection with the events in the eastern city Bukavu. Here, government troops and UN peacekeepers last week lost the city to rebel troops, raising doubts over their ability to safeguard the country's fragile peace and provide security.
Last week, protests were staged all over the country and UN installations have been attacked and looted. Crowds were angry that neither the government nor the UN could fulfil the many promises of peace and security. This week, however, as the rebels left Bukavu, government troops have retaken the eastern city.
The transition government nevertheless has lost much credibility during the Bukavu affair. It is composed of Kabila loyalists, several ex-rebel militias that control the northern and eastern part of the country and some Kinshasa political parties. This power-sharing government later on is to organise elections.
Instability has been the norm since Laurent Kabila, the incumbent President's father, toppled the Mobutu dictatorship in 1997 in a military coup. He was himself killed in a coup attempt in 2001, leading his son, Joseph Kabila, to take power. Since June 2003, he shares powers with the transitional government. The last coup attempt in Kinshasa was only in March this year.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
front page
| news
| countries
| archive
| currencies
| news alerts login
| about afrol News
| contact
| advertise
| español