Gunfire rings out in Congo’s capital as men in military uniform clash with politician’s guards

AP , Sunday 19 May 2024

Gunfire rang out in Congo’s capital early Sunday morning as armed men in military uniform clashed with a top politician’s guards in a neighbourhood near the presidential palace, resulting in the death of three people, according to the politician’s spokesman and local media.

File photo - Cemetery workers carry a coffin during a burial ceremony for victims of a bomb attack on a camp for displaced people near Goma, in Kibati, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, May 15, 2024. AFP

The armed men attacked the Kinshasa residence of Vital Kamerhe, a federal legislator and former vice prime minister of economy, but were repelled by his guards, Michel Moto Muhima, his spokesperson said on the X social media platform.

Local media identified the men as Congolese soldiers. It was not clear if they were trying to arrest the politician, who is a candidate for speaker of the National Assembly of Congo in an election that had been scheduled to be held on Saturday but was delayed due to a dispute within the ruling party.

Two police officers and one of the attackers were killed in the shootout that started around 4:30 a.m. at the house in Tshashi Boulevard which is 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) from the presidential palace, according to Muhima.