Shots fired to thwart an escape attempt near President Tshisekedi’s residence

Kinshasa, July 21^st, 2026 (CPA). – Gunshots have been heard during the night between Monday and Tuesday near the African Union City (OAU) in Kinshasa, the residence of the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Felix Tshisekedi, during an intervention by the defence forces to thwart an escape attempt from the military prosecutor’s detention centre, we have learnt from witnesses. “These shots were not aimed at the OAU compound. Everything is calm here (at the OAU compound). According to information received, a few detainees are reported to have escaped and are hiding in the vicinity, whilst one of them has been wounded in the hand,” has declared to CPA a regular visitor to the Presidential Palace. According to the information gathered, these shots have been decided as part of the operation carried out by the security forces to contain this escape attempt. The situation is currently calm following the intervention of the forces deployed on the ground. The OAU City, situated in the Ngaliema municipality in the west of the DRC’s capital, houses in particular the official residence of the President of the Republic. The premises of the Ngaliema Military Prosecutor’s Office are adjacent to the perimeter of the African Union City. On social media, several users have linked the gunfire to the presidential residence, even though “everything was calm”. President Tshisekedi has received religious leaders at the OAU City, announcing that he had ruled out the option of organising an inclusive dialogue aimed to create a united front against Rwandan aggression.