The trial opened on July 21, 2014, of 20 DRC nationals accused of plotting to kill their President.

Some 20 Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, citizens went on trial yesterday, July 21, 2014, in the Pretoria High Court in South Africa, accused of plotting to overthrow and assassinate the country’s leader, Joseph Kabila.

Radio France Internationale, RFI, reported that the suspects are thought to be members of the ‘l’Union des nationalistes pour le renouveau,’ UNR, movement. They were picked up after being trailed for a long time by South African police operatives who succeeded in infiltrating their ranks. An elite police unit made the arrests in a dawn raid on February 5, 2013, at the group’s base in a remote northern area of the South Africa.

Agency reports said besides President Kabila, the prosecution says the group had a hit list, including other senior DRC figures like the Armed Forces Chief, the Interior Minister and the Central Bank Governor. Most of the defendants, aged 25 to 49, were long-time residents in South Africa. The alleged hit list was found on one of the suspects’ computer. National Prosecution Authority spokesman, Makhosini Nkosi, last February said the group was planning to receive specialised military training to overthrow the current government.

Operatives are said to have secretly filmed their meetings as well tracking their mail for six months. An undercover police agent is said to have succeeded in obtaining a list of weapons and other material the plotters needed for their operation. Led by Etienne Kabila, the suspects are likely to get long jail sentences and possible extradition if convicted. The trial is expected to last six weeks.