Covenant News

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.

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