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The South African government on Sunday expressed its outrage and
condemnation of a reported coup attempt in the Democratic Republic
of Congo (DRC) earlier in the day.
"The South African government, as is with all AU member states,
will never countenance any attempt aimed at the unconstitutional
transfer of power from the legitimate transitional government of
the DRC.
In this regard, the South African Government is heartened by the
knowledge that the DRC Government has brought the situation under
control," the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a
statement.
The statement added that the government was convinced that the
apparent plotters were a tiny minority in its body politic.
"The South African Government remains convinced that the majority
of the people of the DRC are firmly behind efforts by the leaders
of the DRC to help bring about the dawn of peace, freedom,
stability and democracy. South Africa will continue to act together
with the African leadership collectively to ensure the
consolidation of peace efforts in the DRC," the statement
concluded.
Reports from Kinshasa said government forces there had defeated
what diplomats were calling a coup attempt against President Joseph
Kabila.
The assault, waking the crowded city to gunfire, represented the
first major threat to a year-old power-sharing government meant to
reunify and stabilise Africa's third-largest nation after a
5-year-old war that killed an estimated three million people.
Fighters loyal to Congo's late Cold War dictator, Mobutu Sese Seko,
were among those behind the attempt, British Ambassador Jim
Atkinson told The Associated Press.
Agence France-Presse reported that the insurgents attacked four
military bases around the city.
One soldier was killed and two others injured in the attacks,
Information Minister Vital Kamerhe afterwards announced on state
television.
Congolese forces apprehended 12 assailants, adding that others,
dressed in civilian clothing, disappeared into the city with their
weapons. – Sapa.
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