DRC Coup Leader Filmed Facebook Live Inside Palace Before Death

MONDAY MAY 20 2024

A man in military fatigues speaks as others stand next to him inside the Palace of the Nation during an attempted coup in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, May 19, 2024 in this screen grab from a social media video. 

Footage has emerged showing the leader of an attempted coup in Democratic Republic of Congo broadcasting live on Facebook from inside the presidential palace shortly before he was killed by authorities following the failed putsch on Sunday.

In the video, verified by Reuters, Christian Malanga, named by the army as the ringleader, declares in the Lingala language: "We, the militants, are tired. We cannot drag on with Tshisekedi."

Reuters was able to independently verify the location as the palace in Kinshasa by matching imagery to satellite data and file photos. The news agency also confirmed the date through corroborating information.

The government said Malanga, a US-based Congolese politician, was killed when his forces attacked the palace and residence of parliament speaker hopeful Vital Kamerhe in the early hours of Sunday.

Around 50 people including three American citizens were arrested, army spokesman Sylvain Ekenge told Reuters, adding that one of the US nationals was Malanga's son.