In a dramatic development from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), 37 individuals, including three Americans, a Briton, a Belgian, and a Canadian, have been sentenced to death for their involvement in a failed attempt to overthrow President Félix Tshisekedi.
The convicted were accused of orchestrating attacks on the presidential palace and the residence of a key ally of President Tshisekedi in May. Among those tried, Christian Malanga, a US national of Congolese descent and alleged leader of the plot, was killed during the assault, along with five others.
The trial, held in a military court, saw 51 people face charges, with proceedings broadcast on national TV and radio. Malanga’s son, Marcel, and his friend Tyler Thompson, both US citizens were sentenced to death. The pair, both in their 20s, had previously played football together in Utah.
Thompson’s stepmother, Miranda Thompson, expressed her family’s shock and confusion over his involvement, stating that they learned about the situation through online sources.
The third American sentenced, Benjamin Zalman-Polun, had business dealings with Christian Malanga. Jean-Jacques Wondo, a dual Congolese and Belgian citizen and a well-known researcher on regional politics, was also given the death penalty, though Human Rights Watch had previously questioned the strength of the evidence against him.
The British and Canadian nationals involved were also of Congolese origin. Youssouf Ezangi, the Briton, was accused of recruiting others for the plot.
The court acquitted 14 of the 51 accused, finding no connection between them and the attempted coup.
The death sentences, while handed down, are unlikely to be enforced in the immediate future.
DR Congo has not carried out any executions for nearly two decades; those sentenced to death typically serve life imprisonment.
Although the government lifted a moratorium on capital punishment earlier this year, no executions have occurred since.
The attempted coup began early on May 19 in Kinshasa, with armed men first attacking the home of parliamentary speaker Vital Kamerhe before moving to the presidential residence.
Witnesses reported a firefight as about 20 attackers in military uniforms assaulted the palace.
The army later announced that they had thwarted the coup attempt.
Local media identified the assailants as members of the New Zaire Movement, associated with Malanga, an exiled Congolese politician. Malanga was reportedly killed while resisting arrest.
President Tshisekedi, who won re-election in December with approximately 78% of the vote, faces ongoing challenges. Despite DR Congo’s vast mineral resources and large population, the country grapples with persistent conflict, corruption, and governance issues, particularly in the volatile eastern regions.
Tshisekedi has tried to address the unrest with measures including a state of siege, ceasefire agreements, and military assistance from neighboring countries.
(BBC)
