Congo Government denies coup allegations

 The government spokesperson, Theirry Moungalla, who denied these allegations on his official Twitter (X) handle on Sunday, September 17, 2023, said that what is being alleged on social media is fake.

"Fanciful information suggests events that are underway in Brazzaville. All this that is being alleged on social media is fake news," he said in a tweet.

He added, "We reassure the public that all is well and that they should be calm and continue doing their work peacefully."

The allegations came at a time when the country’s President, Dennis Sassou Nguesso, was in New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly.

The 79-year-old president has been in power for more than three decades.

The allegations also come against the backdrop of two coups that have happened in Anglo-African countries, namely Niger and Gabon.

The most recent coup in Gabon saw the ousting of President Ali Bongo, whose family had been in power for more than 50 years.

According to the international broadcaster, the BBC, the coup plotters in the country belonged to the country’s military, specifically a special unit that guards the president.

In Niger, too, the presidential guard played a crucial role in the ousting of President Muhammed Bazzoum.

Nigeria and the entire ECOWAS, the West African regional body, had vowed to attack Niger if the coup plotter did not give back power to the 'democtratically elected President.'

 The African Union has since condemned both coup plotters and banned them from the continental body.