2004 Democratic Republic of the Congo coup attempt

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The 2004 Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) coup attempt was a foiled coup d'état against the UN-backed Transitional Government, led by renegade members of the presidential guard, including Major Eric Lenge.[1] At 2:40 AM local time on June 11, rebel forces briefly seized control of state broadcast stations and announced the suspension of the country's transitional institutions with Major Lenge assuming control himself.[2] The nation's capital of Kinshasha also experienced a blackout, reportedly caused by the rebels.[2] Lacking support from government officials or external powers, the coup failed miserably.

By dawn at 5:15 AM, loyalist troops had successfully regained control of state radio and forced Major Lenge and his men retreating to a military base in Kinshasha.[3] Sounds of shelling and gunfire could be heard in the capital as clashes took place in the military base, city center, and the presidential residence.[3] Lenge's men reportedly contacted sought refuge by contacting several foreign embassies.[3] By midday, twelve of the twenty soldiers accompanying the ringleader to the base were already arrested while the rest fled, including Major Lenge.[3] He was later surrounded at Kinshasa's Ndjili airport by government forces.[3] However, Major Lenge including his men were somehow able to flee in a convoy of jeeps.[4] He eventually evaded capture, prompting opposition figures to accuse Kabila of staging the coup himself to gain emergency powers. In response, a presidential spokesman explained that reluctance to use force in order to not endanger civilians was the main reason government forces failed to promptly capture Major Lenge.[5] In July, he was extradited from Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, to the DRC.[6]

The international community condemned the coup attempt at large: the African Union Chairman Alpha Oumar Konare praised the transitional government for being able to suppress the government[7] while the United Nations in the DRC (MONUC) firmly supported the transitional government and denounced any threats to the transitional process.[8]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Congo Foils Attempted Coup - 2004-06-11". Voice of America. 2009-10-28. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
  2. ^ a b "DR Congo 'foils' coup bid". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
  3. ^ a b c d e Carroll, Rory; correspondent, Africa (2004-06-12). "Kinshasa rocked by fighting as coup plot is crushed". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
  4. ^ Lacey, Marc (2004-06-20). "Life in Congo: Another Coup, Another Crisis". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
  5. ^ "Congolese Leader Safe After Failed Coup Bid". Los Angeles Times. 2004-06-12. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
  6. ^ "Coup leader extradited to DRC". News24. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
  7. ^ SudanTribune (2004-06-13). "African Union condemns coup attempt in DRC". Sudan Tribune. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
  8. ^ "DRC: Coup attempt foiled in Kinshasa - Democratic Republic of the Congo | ReliefWeb". reliefweb.int. 2004-06-11. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
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