Congo Coup: Six Dead in ‘Failed Coup’ in DR Congo

Congo's Democratic Republic President Joseph Kabila looks on during a press conference closing the 13th Summit of Francophone countries attended by some 70 nations, on Oct. 24, 2010 in Montreux. Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images

At least six people were killed as an armed mob stormed the palace of the president of the Democratic Republic of Congo in what officials said was a coup attempt.

The president, Joseph Kabila, was not in the residence at the time of the attack, at 1.30pm local time on Sunday. His presidential palace is located in the Gombe area of the capital Kinshasa, where several embassies are also based.

Guards shot six of the men and the group was repelled, several newswires reported.

“We have witnessed a coup attempt,” Information Minister Lambert Mende told Reuters. “A group of heavily armed people attacked the presidential palace. They were stopped at the first roadblock.”

The Associated Press cited witness testimony as saying that nine people were killed, including two guards.

Kabila is expected to run in the next elections to be held in November this year.

The country has just emerged from one of the biggest conflicts in modern history, which started in 1998 and saw more than 5 million people killed.

Although the conflict ended in 2003, militia groups remain prevalent in the eastern region of the country.