Failed pro-imperialist coup in Democratic Republic of Congo
Imperialist coup attempt in Democratic Republic of Congo.
Accident – Death – Obituary News : Early on Sunday morning, a group of heavily armed individuals launched a brazen attack on the Palace of the Nation, the official residence of the Minister of the Economy, Vital Kamerhe, in Kinshasa, the capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The assailants, clad in military attire, opened fire on the premises, resulting in the tragic deaths of two of Minister Kamerhe’s 15 guards. The siege endured for approximately three hours before security forces managed to quell the threat.
The spokesperson for the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo described the incident as an “attempted coup d’état” orchestrated by a combination of “foreigners and Congolese” individuals. General Sylvain Ekenge, in a brief televised announcement, affirmed that the plot had been swiftly neutralized by the swift actions of the defence and security forces. Notably, it was revealed that several US nationals, including “two Caucasians” and a Congolese individual with British citizenship, were implicated in the foiled coup.
The mastermind behind the failed coup was identified as Christian Malenga, a naturalized American of Congolese origin. Malenga, alongside three accomplices, met their demise while resisting arrest, and approximately 50 individuals, including three US citizens, were apprehended by Congolese military personnel. The captured US citizens comprise Malenga’s 21-year-old son, Marcel Malanga, and Benjamin Zalman-Polun, a former cannabis trader from Maryland.
The botched coup attempt coincided with the escalating geopolitical rivalry between Washington and its NATO allies against Beijing and Moscow, amidst the ongoing conflict between NATO and Russia in Ukraine. The Western imperialist powers expressed dissatisfaction with the DRC’s current government’s burgeoning economic partnerships with China and Russia.
During a live stream on Facebook amidst the siege, Malanga professed his allegiance to the brutal imperialist-backed dictatorship of Mobutu Sese Seko, who governed the DRC as Zaire from 1965 to 1997. Surrounded by a contingent of armed men donning military attire, some sporting red berets, Malenga brandished the Zairean flag, proclaiming in Lingala, “The time has come. Long live Zaire, long live Mobutu’s children!”
Malenga, a resident of the United States, had previously served in both the DRC and US armed forces and was a prominent figure within the Congolese diaspora. Following his participation in the 2011 legislative elections, Malenga was detained for several weeks under the administration of former President Joseph Kabila. Subsequently, he relocated to the US, where he established the United Congolese Party. Over the years, Malanga advocated for religious freedom in Africa and spearheaded anti-corruption initiatives for young Africans in Europe, as reported by Al Jazeera.
US State Department Spokesperson, Matthew Miller, acknowledged reports of two other American citizens in custody following the failed coup. However, he refrained from confirming whether US authorities had initiated contact with the Congolese government to secure consular access to the detainees. US Ambassador to the DRC, Lucy Tamlyn, expressed her astonishment at the coup attempt and pledged full cooperation with Congolese authorities in investigating the incident and ensuring accountability for any American citizens implicated in criminal activities.
In Paris, Le Monde sought to downplay the significance of the coup endeavor, deeming it as “far from the most notable event.” Nonetheless, the publication acknowledged Malenga’s longstanding aspirations to oust the Congolese regime since 2015, raising concerns among observers regarding potential external support for the coup plotters and the underlying motives driving the purported coup d’état.
Amid the escalating global tensions between NATO powers and Russia, the failed coup in Kinshasa underscores the intensifying struggle for dominance in Africa. As the NATO bloc confronts Russia in Ukraine and lends support to the oppressive Israeli regime, the imperialist powers’ rivalry with Russia and China in Africa grows more pronounced.
The DRC, endowed with vast mineral resources such as uranium, cobalt, gold, and copper, has become a focal point in this geopolitical contest. The nation’s strategic significance is underscored by its status as the world’s principal producer of cobalt, a critical component in electric vehicle batteries and mobile devices. In a bid to bolster economic ties, the DRC inked a groundbreaking deal with Chinese mining enterprises, sparking consternation among Western mining corporations.
The failed coup unfolded against the backdrop of the DRC’s burgeoning diplomatic relations with Russia and China under President Félix Tshisekedi’s leadership. Tshisekedi, re-elected in December 2023, has expressed a preference for Eastern partnerships over Western alliances, citing Russia and China’s transparency and conducive business environment for Africa.
Despite Washington’s purported disassociation from the coup attempt, historical precedents of clandestine interventions in African affairs by the NATO powers cast a shadow over the failed coup in Kinshasa. The US and Belgian governments colluded in the assassination of Patrice Lumumba, the Congolese independence icon and the DRC’s first democratically elected Prime Minister, in 1961. Lumumba’s murder paved the way for the despotic Mobutu regime, which enjoyed extensive support from Western powers, notably France.
The aftermath of the Rwandan genocide saw the US-backed ascent of President Paul Kagame in Rwanda, leading to the destabilization of Mobutu’s rule in the DRC. The subsequent conflict, spanning from 1996 to 2008, resulted in an estimated death toll of 5.6 million people in the DRC. The eastern region of the country remains embroiled in a protracted civil war, exacerbated by the activities of various armed factions and foreign interventions.
Tshisekedi’s administration, perceived as a departure from the pro-Western stance of his predecessors, has sought to bolster ties with Russia and China, much to the chagrin of Western powers. As the failed coup underscores the shifting geopolitical dynamics in the DRC, the nation finds itself at the epicenter of a broader struggle for influence between global powers.
In light of the failed coup and its implications for regional stability, the international community closely monitors the evolving situation in the DRC. The failed bid to subvert the government in Kinshasa serves as a stark reminder of the complex geopolitical rivalries playing out on the African continent, with far-reaching consequences for the region’s political landscape..
– pro-imperialist coup targets Democratic Republic of Congo
– failed pro-imperialist coup in Democratic Republic of Congo.
