37 People are Given Death Sentences by a Congolese Court on Allegations of Coup

37 individuals, including three Americans, were given the death penalty on Friday by a military court in the Democratic Republic of the Congo after they were found guilty of taking part in a coup attempt.

The accused, who are primarily Congolese but also comprise British, Belgian, and Canadian nationals, have a period of five days to file an appeal against the ruling over accusations of attempted coup, terrorism, and criminal association. The June trial resulted in the acquittal of fourteen defendants.

The ruling of Maj. Freddy Ehuma, the presiding judge, at an open-air military court proceeding that was televised live on television, found the 37 defendants guilty and sentenced them to “the harshest penalty, that of death.” Seated in plastic chairs, the three Americans in blue and yellow prison garb looked impassive as a translator explained their sentence.

In May, a failed coup attempt targeting President Felix Tshisekedi’s close friend and the presidential palace was spearheaded by the little-known opposition activist Christian Malanga, killing six people. The Congolese army reported that shortly after live-streaming the attack on social media, Malanga was shot and killed while attempting to resist arrest.

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