The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) military said on Sunday it had foiled a coup bid near the offices of President Felix Tshisekedi in the capital Kinshasa involving "foreigners and Congolese".
Shots were heard near the Palais de la Nation that houses the president's offices at the time of the coup attempt in the early hours of Sunday, according to a number of sources.
AU Commission chair Moussa Faki Mahamat "strongly condemns this attempted coup d'etat and welcomes the control of the situation announced by the country's defence and security forces", the AU said in a statement issued late Sunday.
"He is delighted that all the leaders of republican institutions are safe and sound," the statement said. "He takes this opportunity to condemn any use of force to change the constitutional order in any African state whatsoever."
The Congolese army said on Sunday it thwarted a coup d'etat attempt in Kinshasa, the capital of the country, and the perpetrators have been detained. Local media reports indicated that US citizens were among the attackers.
"I am shocked by this morning's events and very concerned by reports of American citizens allegedly involved," US Ambassador in Kinshasa said in a statement on social media. "Please be assured that we will cooperate with the DRC authorities to the fullest extent possible as they investigate these criminal acts and hold accountable any U.S. citizens implicated in criminal acts."