Home
Coup Attempt Quickly Rebuffed in Kinshasa
KINSHASA, CONGO (June 11, 2004) - Just as many believed a sense of calm was
returning to the streets of this capital city following the withdrawal
of rebel soldiers from Bukavu, new violence erupted overnight when a
rebel major seized control of a Congo radio and television station in
Kinshasa and announced suspension of the transitional government.
The electric company was seized and power to Kinshasa was turned off
during the night, a source told Covenant News Service (CNS) today.
Government forces recaptured the station and power company, restored
power and encircled a military camp in Kinshasa as rebel forces
reportedly moved toward the airport amidst heavy weapons fire, Radio
France reported.
The situation had remained tense following the seizure of Bukavu by
rebel soldiers several days ago, despite the presence of United Nations
troops charged with keeping order. Angry residents took to the streets
and several were killed when UN soldiers fired into the crowd to prevent
looting of UN offices.
"There is still a fair amount of displeasure expressed at the UN for not
taking a more active role when the rebels took over Bukavu, especially
when the UN had a large military presence there," the source told CNS.
"We have not received any more warnings from the U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa."
The unrest in and around Kinshasa did not threaten or disrupt mission
activities of the Covenant Church of Congo (CEUM) as most of that work
is centered in the northwestern region of the country some distance
away, according to Keith Gustafson, Congo coordinator for the Department
of World Mission of the Evangelical Covenant Church. "Everything is calm
in northwest Congo where we live," Gustafson reports. "People are just
starting to hear the news on short wave radio."
Gustafson said the Congo Minister of Interior Affairs expressed hope
that violence surrounding what appeared to be an attempted coup would
end today. Further information will be posted to this online Covenant
news report as it becomes available.
Copyright © 2008 The Evangelical Covenant Church. |
