The weekend of May 19 saw numerous headlines in global media about “the foiled coup in the Democratic Republic of Congo”.

Most stories reported that security forces “thwarted a coup attempt in the DRC on Sunday in which armed men targeted the homes of top officials and briefly occupied the office of the presidency in the capital Kinshasa;” citing Congolese authorities.

However, sources closer to the ruling political coalition, Union Sacrée, confirmed that what happened in Kinshasa was not a coup, but a failed plot to eliminate Vital Kamerhe. 

“Officially elected as President of the National Assembly of the DRC on May 22, Vital Kamerhe was the main target of the alleged ‘coup attempt’ in Kinshasa,” said a source in the DRC capital.

Kamerhe, president of the UNC political party and sole candidate of the parliamentary majority for this position, left the position in 2009 under pressure from his former political party, the People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD).

Vital Kamerhe

The former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Economy won 371 votes to regain control of the Parliament.

According to sources, Kamerhe has intentions to run for president in the next elections.

Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi is planning for constitutional amendment so that he can run for more than two terms legitimized by the current constitution.

With Kamerhe having intentions to be the next president, and being the president of DRC’s parliament, an organ responsible for legal changes, Tshisekedi’s plans cannot bear fruits.

“This is why Tshisekedi sent the armed men to eliminate Kamerhe, so that his plans to amend the constitution be successful,” revealed the source.

The second target in the Kinshasa ‘coup’ drama was the US-based Congolese opposition leader, Christian Malanga, who was leading the so-called ‘attackers’ hired by Tshisekedi. 

Malanga, once a supporter of Tshisekedi, turned into opposition leader and formed a government in exile.  Few months ago, he returned in DRC secretly.

Tshisekedi’s security services knew that Malanga was in the country, but did not want to kill him. Instead,  they approached him through his old friend, a former FAZ General, Richard-Léon Kasonga Cibangu, and tricked him into believing that they would support him to oust the President. 

Malanga took the bait. He was then given over 40 Congolese armed men including hired  white men who were in DRC under the cover of investors. He was also promised to be facilitated in clearing the three kilometer route to Kamerhe’s residence and presidential palace.

The plot was that Malanga and his men would be used to kill Kamerhe, and then Malanga would be killed later. Unfortunately, Kamerhe was not assassinated. Two of his security guards were shot dead.

Malanga was mercilessly shot dead, while his men were arrested, as planned.

The Congolese national army spokesperson said that a group of around 50 armed men in camouflage fatigues attacked the residences of the prime minister, the defense minister, and a senior politician tipped to become speaker of parliament.

The number of alleged “putschists” and how they were militarily equipped signals how the ‘coup attempt’ was a political game.

“Have you ever seen a dozen of armed men, with only assault rifles, seizing power? How would they seize the presidential palace, a very protected place?” asked the source.

It is unclear whether Tshisekedi is planning other maneuvers to eliminate Kamerhe after the first tactic failed.

Sources say the UDPS ruling party is not happy with Kamerhe, and internal wrangles in Union Sacrée led to a delay in appointing a new cabinet.

Four months after Tshisekedi was sworn in for the second term, he has not managed to establish a new cabinet. Judith Tuluka was appointed as new Prime Minister on April 1. Since then, only members of Union Sacrée are aware of why other ministers are not yet nominated.

The disputed elections saw the ruling coalition winning majority of influential seats in the new government. However, nominating individuals who will occupy the seats put Tshisekedi between a rock and a hard place.