On Sunday, May 19, 2024, the army of the Democratic Republic of the Congo announced that it had foiled a coup attempt against President Felix Tshisekedi in the capital, Kinshasa. Congolese and foreign fighters were reportedly involved in the attack, as armed men tried to seize control of the President's office in the "Palais de la Nation." Authorities declared the plan unsuccessful after eliminating the coup's mastermind and apprehending several individuals connected to the assault.
Preliminary Information
Initial reports from Congolese authorities have provided information on a series of field movements and individuals believed to be involved in the alleged coup attempt. The most notable details include:
- A group of armed men attacked the Palais de la Nation, the office of the President of the Republic, located in the center of the capital, Kinshasa.
- There were also reports of clashes between men in military uniform and guards of federal lawmaker Vital Kamerhe at his residence, which is two kilometers from the presidential palace. Kamerhe, a prominent figure in Congo, is the former deputy prime minister and chief of staff, as well as a close ally of President Tshisekedi. Kamerhe, who was a candidate for National Assembly Speaker, was elected following the attack.
- Attackers, according to local media reports, are members of the New Zaire Movement, which was founded by Christian Malanga, a politician who had previously been exiled. Malanga lived in Salt Lake City for several years as a refugee before returning to Congo to join the army. In 2012, he established the United Congolese Party and later the New Zaire Movement, which references the country's name prior to 1997 during the era of Mobutu Sese Seko.
- Before the attack, Malanga and other military members circulated a video that showed them raising the former Zaire flag and chanting "Felix, we are coming for you" and "We, the military, are tired, and we cannot walk side by side with Vital Kamerhe and President Felix Tshisekedi."
- Congolese authorities announced that Malanga had been eliminated during the attack, and a person named Abubakar was also neutralized. About fifty other individuals, including three American citizens, were arrested and are currently being interrogated by specialized agencies.
- Current information indicates that Malanga first attempted a coup in 2017 but was unsuccessful. Reports also indicate that one of the US citizens arrested was Malanga's son.
Unstable Circumstances
The failed coup attempt in the DRC occurred amidst politically and economically turbulent circumstances. The most notable aspects of these circumstances are as follows:
1. Internal political unrest:
- Over the past months, political turmoil in the Congo has been linked to President Tshisekedi's second term. Tshisekedi was re-elected in December 2023 and sworn in as president in January 2024 after chaotic and disputed elections, in which he received 78% of the votes. Another challenge has been the postponement of parliamentary elections, originally scheduled for May 18, 2024, which coincided with the alleged coup attempt.
- The alleged foiled coup also coincides with an internal crisis in the ruling party led by President Tshisekedi, which revolves around postponed parliamentary leadership elections. One day before the alleged coup attempt, President Tshisekedi met with parliamentarians and leaders of the ruling coalition to address the party's internal issues. Tshisekedi warned that if the crisis persisted, he would dissolve the National Assembly and call for new elections.
2. The intensification of internal armed conflict:
- Congo is currently experiencing a severe armed conflict that has escalated in intensity. Numerous armed groups, such as the M23 Movement, are engaged in a struggle for dominance over land, minerals, and diamonds in the eastern part of the country. Additionally, Congo is facing the presence of ISIS cells, known as the Central Africa Province, which further complicates its efforts to manage the armed conflict.
- During his two presidential campaigns, Tshisekedi made a commitment to address the unrest in eastern DRC. In his first term, specifically in 2021, he declared a state of siege in the regions of Ituri and North Kivu. To restore order, he appointed military commanders to replace the civil administration in those regions. Additionally, the president initiated a recruitment campaign that resulted in thousands of young people joining the army. Simultaneously, Tshisekedi launched a disarmament operation aimed at reintegrating members of armed groups into civilian life. In his current term, President Tshisekedi is emphasizing a policy of blockading the conflict zone while ending the mission of the East Africa Force. This force, which was formed to limit the activity of the "M23 Movement," has been accused by Kinshasa of being ineffective and even involved in promoting conflicts. As a result, the capital is considering replacing them with a South African force.
- General assessments indicate that Congo's security and social efforts have not effectively reduced levels of violence in the country. In fact, the number of armed attacks against civilians has increased, and various ethnic groups have become involved in the armed conflict.
3. Worsening economic conditions: Congo is home to vast mineral resources, primarily located in the eastern part of the country, where violence continues to escalate. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) holds the title of the world's largest producer of cobalt, a crucial component in electric cars. As a result, the country holds significant strategic importance for both the West and China, which dominate the mining industry. Despite its mineral wealth, over 70% of the DRC's population lives in extreme poverty. This dire situation has fueled ethnic and sectarian conflicts within the country and has also contributed to a rise in cross-border mining and customs fraud.
4. The expansion of the phenomenon of coups in Africa: The alleged coup attempt in the Congo is believed to be a consequence of a series of coups that have occurred in Africa between 2020 and 2023. These coups have been particularly widespread in Western African countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. Other affected countries include Chad, Guinea, and Gabon. The resulting instability has led to the rise of military governments that have been prioritizing closer relations with Russia, while sidestepping the West and the US in particular.
Entangled Indications
The recent foiled coup in Congo reveals several significant political and security implications. The most noteworthy observations include:
1. Profile of the Failed Coup Plotter: Malanga, the individual behind the failed coup, seemed to be driven by personal motives. His primary goal appeared to be the promotion of various freedoms, particularly religious freedom. It is possible that he anticipated external and regional approval for his actions or aimed to garner widespread internal support.
2. Malanga's tactics do not appear to be well thought out and planned as a comprehensive coup. Instead, they seem to be more of a military and political adventure. This is because Malanga lacks the necessary "coup toolkit," so to speak. As the former leader of the New Zaire Movement, he was ill-equipped in terms of power, influence, and military strength required to control the levers of power in the country. Preliminary data indicates that Malanga's movements involved only around fifty militants. The strikes he led targeted only the office of the President and the home of the President's ally, Vital Kamerhi. Malanga did not seek to control public facilities. It is likely that his adventure was linked to promises of military and security support. Alternatively, the coup leader believed that his putsch would encourage a wider military defection.
3. The goal of Malanga's movements may have been to assassinate the president and his ally, who hold significant influence in Congolese internal affairs. This scenario is particularly plausible considering Kamerhi’s proximity to the Presidency of the National Assembly, which undoubtedly would have strengthened Tshisekedi's authority.
4. It appears that Malanga aimed to capitalize on the internal and external circumstances in the Congo to execute his plans. This is evident when examining the timing of his actions, particularly in light of the escalating political matters, such as the appointment of the government and the election of the President of the National Assembly.
It is expected that security measures in the state's vital facilities will increase in the coming days due to the fear of a new wave of coup attempts. Additionally, this failed overthrow may provide Congolese authorities with more opportunities to restrict movement in vital areas. Authorities are launching a massive security campaign to apprehend individuals who are involved but have not yet been arrested. Moreover, the government may accelerate the resolution of political crises and intensify military operations against armed factions in the eastern part of the country.
