On the wee hours of Sunday (19th May 2024) residents in posh area commonly known as Gombe in Kinshasa woke up to gunshots taking place at the Palais de Nation – the seat of government. It was said the gunmen were attempting a putsch against president Tshisekedi.
A group of more than 50 people heavily armed stormed the residence of the Deputy Prime Minister Vital Kamerhe and shot two of his guards forcing their way inside the house. Although a quick intervention of security descended upon the area and neutralized the coup plotters, one can confidently say that the attempted coup in DRC was a result of Tshisekedi’s lack of control of weapons in his country, and rampant army indiscipline.
All the assault riffles that were used on Sunday morning attack at the Palais de Nation by the coup plotters were domestically registered. Obviously, the attack exposed a glaring failure in military leadership where poor enforcement of gun control laws allowed legal firearms to fall into the wrong hands.
The coup plotters, amongst them Christian Malanga, a former FARDC official who absconded from the army at the rank of captain and went to live in the US, had a quick and easy access to the national armory since him and his cronies could not have carried them on a plane from the US. Observers on the other hand state that it was all drama played by Tshisekedi to divert attention from his incompetence.
The recent shootings of civilians in Goma and Bukavu by individuals posing as Wazalendo reveal even further a disturbing laxity in gun control. Sources on ground have all indicated that the guns used in these attacks were trafficked from the FARDC, the Congolese army. This alarming revelation points to systemic corruption and leadership vacuum within military ranks.
Strengthening internal security measures and accountability is crucial to prevent military resources from being misused, ensuring the safety of civilians and the integrity of national security, but from the look of things, the ruler of DRC cares less.
Numerous reports, including those from the UN Group of Experts (UN-GoE), have consistently implicated the FARDC in illegal arms deals with rebel groups, such as the FDLR. For example, a 2018 UN report detailed how FARDC officers supplied weapons and ammunition to FDLR combatants in exchange for minerals.
In another instance, a 2020 investigation revealed FARDC’s involvement in arms trafficking networks that equipped various militia groups, exacerbating conflict and violence in the eastern DRC. These documented cases highlight a troubling pattern of corruption and collusion within the Congolese military, undermining efforts to achieve peace and stability in the region.
Tshisekedi and his cronies cannot blame anyone for the foiled coup, it is his sole responsibility. The diversion of military firearms to unauthorized groups underscores the urgent need for serious oversight and reform within the FARDC, failure to that he should be prepared for more coup attempts.
ellenkampire