DRC President may be third world leader targeted by assassins this week
Reports out of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) allege three U.S. citizens participated in a plot to attack the nation’s presidential palace and eventually take over the country.
The footage below is being shared online, reportedly showing some of the Americans being arrested by the Congolese Army.
BREAKING🚨 CIA Agents arrested in the CONGO!
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) armed forces repelled an attempted coup d’etat involving Congolese and foreign fighters on Sunday morning, a DRC army spokesperson said in a televised address. The army announces the arrest of… pic.twitter.com/AB48ngn2D1
— Syrian Girl 🇸🇾 (@Partisangirl) May 19, 2024
The moment Christian Malanga Son and an American Man were captured by the Republican Guard after their aborted coup d’état in Congo 🇨🇩. They hid near the river so they could cross late at night to Brazzaville 🇨🇬. pic.twitter.com/RRjM3XXEB9
— Typical African (@Joe__Bassey) May 20, 2024
CBS News reports, “The Democratic Republic of Congo’s army said it foiled a coup attempt early Sunday and arrested the perpetrators, including several foreigners, following attacks on the presidential palace and the residence of a close ally of Congo’s president that left three people dead in the capital, Kinshasa. Officials said three U.S. nationals were among those behind the alleged plot, but their identities and whereabouts remained unclear Monday morning.”
In total, fifty people were arrested for taking part in the failed coup d’ etat that was initiated by opposition leader Christian Malanga.
According to the New York Post, Malanga was shot and killed during the attack on government buildings.
At least two police officers also died after being shot in the melee.
One of the American men being arrested in the footage above is said to be Malanga’s son.
President Felix Tshisekedi was being targeted in the assault, with Christian Malanga saying in a social media video just before he was killed, “Felix, you’re out. We are coming for you.”
The American ambassador to the DRC issued a message about the incident on X, writing, “I am shocked by the events of this morning and very concerned by reports of American citizens allegedly involved. Please be assured that we will cooperate with the DRC authorities to the fullest extent as they investigate these criminal acts and hold accountable any U.S. citizen involved in criminal acts.”
Je suis choquée par les événements de ce matin et très préoccupée par les rapports faisant état de citoyens américains prétendument impliqués. Soyez assurés que nous coopérerons avec les autorités de la RDC dans toute la mesure du possible alors qu’elles enquêtent sur ces actes…
— Ambassadeur Lucy Tamlyn (@USAmbDRC) May 19, 2024
This appears to be the third hit on a world leader this week as the President of Iran was killed in a helicopter crash over the weekend and the Prime Minister of Slovakia was shot by an attempted assassin last Wednesday.
