Congolese security forces have killed at least 40 people involved in a violent uprising in the capital Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) army says.
The army said it had regained control of the state television headquarters, RTNC, army headquarters and the international airport in Kinshasa following an attack by some 70 gunmen early Monday.
The clashes reportedly broke out between supporters of pastor Joseph Mukungubila and army forces.
According to government spokesman, Lambert Mende, 16 assailants had been killed at the airport in Ndjili, 16 at the Tshatshi military base, and eight more near the RTNC.
“No civilian casualties have been reported and no victims in the security forces,” Mende added, noting that the attack was aimed at terrorizing citizens.
Police officials said earlier that journalists at state broadcaster had been taken hostage by the gunmen. All channels reportedly went off air at one point.
Reports say there have been similar clashes in the eastern city of Lubumbashi.
On December 5, Mukungubila said in an open letter that he was unhappy with the way the country was being ruled, expressing hatred towards neighboring Rwanda. The pastor said President Joseph Kabila’s ties with Rwanda were too close.
The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), which includes around 3,000 troops from Tanzania, South Africa and Malawi, has been launched to return peace and stability to the country.
