Covenant News

Communications Interrupted in Wake of Congo Coup Attempt

KINSHASA, CONGO (January 17, 2001) - Conflicting reports continue to surface over the fate of Congo President Laurent Kabila, rumored to have been assassinated in a Tuesday coup attempt at his palace.

Repeated attempts have been made to contact Evangelical Covenant Church contacts in the area, but sources suggest that communications into and out of the country have been intentionally interrupted, making contact impossible at this time.

The Associated Press earlier reported Kabila died following the coup attempt, quoting Belgian and French foreign ministry officials. It has been speculated that Kabila was shot by one of his guards. The Boston Globe carried a similar report, quoting a Kabila spokesperson in the United States as confirming the president's death.

The wire service also quoted intelligence officers in Rwanda who said they had unconfirmed reports that Kabila was killed in the intense shooting Tuesday afternoon at the presidential palace, which lasted a half-hour. Rwanda supports rebels fighting to topple the Congolese strongman.

Americans in the region reportedly have been advised to remain indoors admidst pleas from Kabila military personnel for the public to remain calm. Heavily armed government troops patrol the streets of Congo's capital city.

Kabila has been fighting a civil war since August 1998, when rebel forces backed by former allies Rwanda and Uganda turned against him. In the war's early stages, the rebels reached the outskirts of Kinshasa before being turned back by Kabila's army, which is now supported by Angola, Namibia and Zimbabwe.

Covenant News Service will post information concerning any impact on Covenant ministries in the region as soon as that information becomes available.

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