In a recent development from Kinshasa, Congo, the country’s President, Felix Tshisekedi, has decided to alter the sentences of three American nationals involved in a failed coup attempt last year. Originally condemned to death by a military court, their sentences have been reduced to life imprisonment, as declared by presidential spokesperson Tina Salama.
The original sentencing followed the involvement of over 30 individuals in the coup, which tragically resulted in the death of six people. The incident, spearheaded by opposition member Christian Malanga, took aim at the presidential palace and an associate of the President himself. Malanga was apprehended and subsequently killed after a brief live-stream of the coup on social media.
Among the three Americans, Marcel Malanga, the 21-year-old son of the late coup leader and a U.S. citizen, was convicted for his part in the event. His companions included Tyler Thompson Jr., also 21, who is a friend from Utah, and Benjamin Reuben Zalman-Polun, 36, who allegedly had ties with Christian Malanga through a gold mining enterprise.
In court, Marcel Malanga recounted that the coercion by his father forced him and Thompson to engage in the ill-fated attack. “Dad had threatened to kill us if we did not follow his orders,” he said during the hearings.
The court case primarily involved Congolese nationals but also included individuals from Britain, Belgium, and Canada. They faced charges related to attempted coup, terrorism, and criminal association. Out of the many accused, 14 were acquitted.
This decision to commute sentences comes amidst ongoing negotiations between Congolese and U.S. authorities over a proposed minerals deal. The deal’s potential approval would entail providing security support to Kinshasa for handling the ongoing rebel issues in the eastern regions of Congo.
Additionally, the U.S. Department of State has declared that Massad Boulos, the new senior advisor for Africa, will be visiting Congo along with Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda, starting April 3. The visit aims to further peace initiatives in eastern Congo and encourage U.S. investments in Africa, as per a statement from the State Department.