South Africans suspected in DRC coup attempt

Foreign Affairs has confirmed that 19 South Africans are being held in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The DRC government is accusing them of being involved in a coup plot. Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa said 16 of the prisoners are employees of the Omega Security Company, while three are interpreters for the Mirabilis Mining Company. Mamoepa says they were arrested on Friday with three Americans and four Nigerians. South Africa’s diplomatic mission has visited them in prison with a view to providing full consular access. Mamoepa says the investigations are being monitored but it is still unclear whether they had been involved in any wrongdoing.