Covenant News
Missionaries Not Threatened by Outbreak of Violence
KINSHASA, CONGO (March 30, 2004) - Security forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo remain on high-alert status following Sunday morning's attack by unidentified gunmen on military bases near this capital city.
The shooting began around 2 a.m. Sunday, according to Keith Gustafson,
Congo coordinator for the Department of World Mission of the Evangelical
Covenant Church, who said he first learned of trouble brewing via a
morning radio broadcast by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
"By 4 p.m. Sunday, BBC and other radio sources were confirming that this had been an attempted coup, but that government forces were in control of the city and the situation," Gustafson reported in an email to Covenant News Service. "Reports said that two soldiers had been killed and other people had been wounded, though no numbers were given. Kinshasa television showed 15 soldiers had been arrested, accused of participating in the overthrow attempt. BBC reported Monday morning that rebels had infiltrated Kinshasa from the outlying areas and from Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of Congo, which is directly across the Congo River from Kinshasa. The Republic of Congo has denied any involvement in this attempt," Gustafson said in paraphrasing the radio reports.
The BBC today quoted a government spokesperson who described Sunday's attacks as an attempt to destabilize the country. The spokesperson said it is "too early to say" whether it was an attempted coup, confirming that at least 15 suspected attackers had been arrested and thought to be members of the former guard of the country's late ruler, Mobutu Sese Seko. Eighteen others are believed to remain at large.
President Joseph Kabila appealed for calm and asked Congolese to "go about their daily business." He also asked for the support of the population to locate hidden weapons.
No Covenant missionaries were in Congo when the fighting erupted, Gustafson said, as they had traveled to Cameroon for a spiritual retreat. Bob Thornbloom had just completed a three-week visit to Congo and left Saturday night before the violence broke out.
More information will be posted to this online Covenant news report as it becomes available.
Printable version of this page.