Congo Brazzaville govt dismisses reports of coup attempt as 'fake news'
Brazzaville, Congo (PANA) - The government of the Republic of Congo has denied reports of a coup attempt to oust President Denis Sassou Nguesso describing them as "fake news".
A post on X social media platform, formerly twitter, by Mr. Thierry Lézin Moungalla, Minister of Communication and Media, Government spokesperson, read: "Fanciful information suggests serious events that may be underway in #Brazzaville. The Government denies this fake news. We reassure public opinion about the calm that reigns and invite people to calmly go about their activities. #ComGouvCg"
The denial was also posted on the government's information platform.
Reports of a coup attempt to topple President Nguesso, 79, surfaced on social media on Sunday.
The President has dominated the political space in Congo-Brazzaville since 1979.
He served as President from 1979 to 1992, when he lost an election. He returned to power in 1997 after a civil war and has remained in power since then.
There has been a wave of military coups in Africa in recent years with Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Niger, Gabon and Chad being ruled by the military.
-0- PANA MA 18Sept2023
