Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Kinshasa (Fides Service)- A ‘coup attempt’ in Kinshasa, capital of Democratic Republic of Congo appears to have failed. “The shooting has stopped. The state radio has announced that President Joseph Kabila is about to address the nation” local Church sources in Kinshasa told Fides. “Until 9 this morning shelling and artillery fire was heard”.
The mutineers also took control of the central power station and cut off electricity to Kinshasa for about 3 hours. The government said the coup had failed but at about 8.30am artillery fire was heard coming from camp Tshatshi, Kinshasa's biggest military base, situated on the outskirts of the city on the banks of the Congo river. “The rebel soldiers are part of the presidential guard considered the most efficient corps in the army” the sources told Fides. “The artificers of the coup may have thought to take advantage of the absence of much of the presidential guard sent to east Congo to deal with RCD rebels (Congolese Union for Democracy) leaving Kinshasa partially undefended”. Over recent days in Kinshasa and other towns there were lively protests after RCD rebels took Bukavu, the main town in South Kivu eastern Congo. Demonstrators were angry that the rebels took Bukavu despite the presence of UN peacekeepers. However thanks to UN mediation RCD Goma withdrew from Bukavu.
Some demonstrators shouted slogans against President Kabila and this, according to our sources, “convinced the renegade soldiers that the President had lost popular support and that the coup would not be opposed by the people. Since government troops retook the town of Bukavu the President is now seen as a defender of national unity ”.
According to France Press news agency the renegade soldiers are on the run chased by troops loyal to the President. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 11/6/2004, righe 33 parole 404)
