Three US citizens have been arrested in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) over their alleged involvement in a failed coup attempt. The men were seized following a shooting incident in the capital, Kinshasa, and are believed to be CIA agents despite the fact that no representative from the US government has confirmed such an affair.
Footage posted on social media claimed to show two of those detained who appeared to be Americans pleading for mercy from Congolese security forces surrounding them.The men showed signs of injuries and cuts after the failed coup attempt, according to Daily Mail.
Lucy Tamlyn, the US ambassador to DRC expressed her shock and concern about what happened. “I am shocked by the events this morning and very worried by reports of American citizens allegedly being involved,” she tweeted on X (formerly Twitter). “We are working with authorities in DRC as they investigate these criminal acts and make sure any American citizen involved is brought to justice.”
The attempted coup leader was named as Christian Malanga, a 41-year-old former refugee educated in America who later became an American citizen. Soldiers took him into custody along with his son Marcel among others.
Likewise it was reported that one passport confiscated from one of the Americans had Benjamin Zalman-Polun as its registered owner who is said to be a 36 year old cannabis trader form Maryland while reportedly having an agreement with Malanga.
The attempted coup occurred near President Felix Tshisekedi’s office at Kinshasa. General Sylvain Ekenge, spokesman for DRC military announced on national television said that around 50 people including three American individuals had been apprehended during this unsuccessful coup reinforced by today’s footage available online, he added which featured heavily armed paramilitary personnel wearing uniforms adorned with Us insignia outside president’s offices based at Palais de la Nation.
The group accused of participating in such planned mutiny also comprised naturalised subjects from various countries including a British national as its second in command. The DRC’s defense minister Jean-Pierre Bemba and economy minister Vital Kamerhe are two foremost targets of the coup, although their residences were not found.
Paramilitary groups vying for control of the country’s mineral resources have been plunging DRC into violence. The United States has shown concern over China’s aggressive diplomacy in Africa that indicates US influence is dwindling within the continent.
President Felix Tshisekedi, re-elected with over 70% of the vote, has faced accusations of arresting opposition members with impunity. According to AFP journalists there was nothing strange about this situation as streets near Palais de la Nation remained closed to traffic after the coup attempt although everything appeared calm.
The arrests made involving the Americans and a failed coup show how unstable things remain in DRC and across East Africa.
