Congo Reduces Death Sentences for Three Americans Guilty in Attempted Coup

A presidential directive remitted their death sentences to life in prison, Congolese presidential spokesperson Tina Salama said, over six months after a military court condemned the three and more than 30 others to death for the failed coup.

The pardon came as Congolese officials sought to clinch a minerals deal with the United States in exchange for security assistance to help Kinshasa combat rebels in the conflict-torn eastern region.

Six people were killed in last year’s attempted coup attempt, orchestrated by little-known opposition activist Christian Malanga, which targeted the Kinshasa presidential palace as well as Tshisekedi’s close associate. Malanga was fatally shot while resisting arrest shortly after live-streaming the attack on social media, according to the Congolese army.

Marcel Malanga, Malanga’s 21-year-old son and a US citizen, was one of the Americans accused of engaging in the coup conspiracy. Tyler Thompson Jr., 21, a high school buddy of the younger Malanga who came to Africa from Utah for what his family thought was a free vacation, and Benjamin Reuben Zalman-Polun, 36, who is said to have met Christian Malanga through a gold mining company.

Most of the accused were Congolese, although there were also Britons, Belgians, and Canadians. Their accusations included attempted coup, terrorism, and criminal association. The trial concluded with the acquittal of fourteen persons.

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