The presidency of the Democratic Republic of Congo has announced that the death sentences of three Americans, convicted for their roles in a failed coup last year, have been reduced to life imprisonment. This decision coincides with the impending visit of a US diplomatic official to the region.
US Nationals' Death Sentences Commuted in DR Congo Coup Case
US Nationals' Death Sentences Commuted in DR Congo Coup Case
The Democratic Republic of Congo has commuted the death sentences of three Americans involved in a failed coup attempt to life imprisonment.
Three Americans sentenced to death for their involvement in a failed coup attempt in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) have recently had their penalties commuted to life imprisonment. The decision, announced by the presidency, marks a significant shift for the trio, who were part of a broader group of 37 individuals sentenced by a military court last September.
The Americans, Marcel Malanga, Tyler Thompson, and Zalman Polun, were accused of orchestrating an armed assault on both the presidential palace and the residence of close associate of President Félix Tshisekedi in May 2022. The clemency comes just prior to a visit from Massad Boulos, the newly appointed US senior advisor for Africa. Boulos, who is connected through family ties to former President Donald Trump, is set to arrive in Kinshasa shortly.
Although the US government has not classified the three men as wrongfully detained, discussions about their situation have taken place in diplomatic circles. Their charges included criminal conspiracy and terrorism, all of which they refuted.
Christian Malanga, the alleged mastermind behind the coup plot, died during the initial attack along with five other participants. Overall, a military court heard cases against 51 individuals, of which 14 were acquitted.
It is worth noting that the death penalty has not been enforced in DR Congo over the last two decades, with the few death sentences often resulting in life imprisonment instead. Despite a recent lifting of this moratorium to eradicate "traitors" from the military, actual executions have remained nonexistent. President Tshisekedi’s decision to grant clemency is seen as a possible precursor to broader changes, according to legal representatives of those involved.
Jean-Jacques Wondo, a dual citizen of Congo and Belgium, was sentenced to death but has since been transferred to Belgium due to health issues. The future for the Americans remains uncertain regarding their potential return to the United States to serve their sentences, and it's unknown if other condemned individuals from the coup attempt will also receive sentence reductions. The coup, which occurred during early mornings of May 19, began with assaults on notable political figures, followed by an armed surge on the presidential edifices, leading to gunfire exchanges.
