Armed men attacked the home of the economy minister early on May 19 before moving on to the nearby Palais de la Nation that houses President Felix Tshisekedi's offices in the capital.
Around 40 people were arrested, with another four killed, out of a group made up of "several nationalities" army spokesman General Sylvain Ekenge said at the time.
The plot was led by Christian Malanga, a Congolese and "naturalised American" who was among those killed by security forces, Ekenge said.
But Human Rights Watch (HRW) said, "Congolese security forces killed Malanga in unclear circumstances hours after he seized the Palais de la Nation."
The New York-based group said it has located a video taken by Congolese soldiers that shows "presumed coup participants" being apparently shot at near the Palais.
"The government's response needs to be rights-respecting, which includes impartially investigating possible security force involvement in alleged summary executions," said Lewis Mudge, Central Africa director at HRW.
The video shows the banks of the Congo River near Tshisekedi's offices with seven men in civilian dress or without clothing, in and around a boat -- including one Caucasian man without clothing who is believed to be a foreigner who took part in the coup bid.
Six men in Congolese military fatigues are also seen in the video.
"A soldier shoots twice at one of the presumed coup participants, who then lies motionless," HRW said.
The recording also shows another man who jumps in the river "in an attempt to flee".
- 'Pool of blood' -
"The soldiers shoot at him several dozen times until a pool of blood appears in the water and he no longer comes up for air," the rights group said.
Other Congolese organisations including Lucha, a French acronym for fight for change, and Justicia Asbl also condemned the alleged extrajudicial killings.
"The government both has a responsibility to ensure the security of the country and to hold those responsible for the coup attempt accountable, based on international fair trial standards," added Lewis Mudge, Central Africa director at HRW.
The rights group said the coup attempt came after a prolonged period of the government having "significantly repressed" free expression, media freedom and peaceful assembly.
"Since 2020, the authorities have increasingly cracked down on journalists, human rights and democracy activists, critics of the government, and opposition party members and officials," HRW said.
Congolese journalist Stanis Bujakera was released from prison in March after spending six months behind bars.
He allegedly incriminated the country's military intelligence in the murder of opposition politician Cherubin Okende.
"The Congolese government needs to treat this crisis as an opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to human rights and the rule of law," Mudge said.
Kenya holds public hearings into alleged abuses by British troops
Nairobi (AFP) May 28, 2024 -
Kenya on Tuesday is due to launch public hearings into allegations of human rights violations and abuses of power by British troops based in the former colony.
The British Army Training Unit in Kenya (BATUK) is an economic lifeline for many in the central town of Nanyuki, where it maintains a permanent base, but soldiers stationed there have also been accused of committing offences including murder.
In the most high-profile case dating back to 2012, the body of a young Kenyan mother was found in a septic tank in Nanyuki where she was last seen alive with a British soldier.
Agnes Wanjiru's family filed a lawsuit in Kenya over the 21-year-old's death, but progress has been sluggish, with hearings repeatedly postponed. The case is now due to be heard on July 10, according to local media.
Kenya's parliament announced last week it would hold four public hearings, including one in Nanyuki, into alleged abuses by British troops stationed in the country.
The hearings between Tuesday and Thursday this week will "investigate the allegations of human rights violations, including mistreatment, torture, unlawful detention, killings", a circular issued by the lower house of parliament said.
The hearings will also examine "the alleged ethical breaches related to ethical misconduct, including corruption, fraud, discrimination, abuse of power, and other unethical behaviour".
London and Nairobi have been at odds over the question of jurisdiction for British soldiers who break Kenyan law, with the UK government saying previously that it did not accept the jurisdiction of the Kenyan court probing Wanjiru's death.
Asked about this week's hearings, a spokesperson for the British High Commission told AFP: "The British High Commission in Nairobi and BATUK intend to cooperate with the inquiry.
"The UK-Kenya defence partnership is one of the great strengths of our relationship and our joint training and operations with the Kenyan Defence Forces are keeping both Kenyan and British people safe."
- Inquiry reopened -
On Thursday, the British mission said High Commissioner Neil Wigan had met with Wanjiru's family, who have long demanded justice over her killing.
"The meeting provided an opportunity for the High Commissioner to listen to the family and offer his condolences. The High Commissioner also reiterated the UK's continued commitment to cooperate fully with the Kenyan investigation into (the) death of Ms Wanjiru," it said.
In October 2021, Britain's The Sunday Times newspaper reported that a soldier had confessed to his comrades to killing Wanjiru and showed them her body.
The report alleged that military superiors were made aware of the murder, but no further action was taken.
An investigation was opened in 2019 but no results have been made public.
Kenyan police announced that the inquiry would be reopened after the Sunday Times revelations.
Wanjiru's family has filed a lawsuit against the British army in Kenya as well as Kenyan police, legal and political officials over her death.
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