Early Sunday morning, a shootout took place in Kinshasa, the capital of Congo. armed persons in military uniform clashed with the guards of high-ranking politicians in the territory of the presidential palace, as a result of which three people were killed, reports AP, citing local media.
Gunmen attacked the Kinshasa residence of federal lawmaker and former deputy economy minister Vital Kamerhe, but were repelled by his security guard Michel Moto Muhima, his spokesman said on his X microblog.
"Honorable Vital Kamerhe and his family are safe. Their defense has been strengthened," he wrote.
Local media reported that the attackers were Congolese soldiers. It is not yet known whether they were trying to arrest the politician, who is a candidate for the post of president of the Congolese National Assembly in Saturday's elections, which were postponed due to disagreements within the ruling party.
Muhima said two policemen and one of the attackers were killed in the shootout that began around 4:30 a.m. local time at a house about 2 kilometers from the presidential palace, which also houses some embassies.
The United States Embassy in Congo issued an alert, urging caution "following reports of gunfire."
