Death Sentences for 37 Individuals in DRC Coup Attempt

Death Sentences for 37 in Congo Coup Attempt

A military court in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) issued death sentences to 37 individuals on Friday, convicting them of involvement in a coup attempt. The group includes primarily Congolese nationals but also features three American citizens, a British national, a Belgian, and a Canadian. They have a five-day window to appeal against the verdict, which encompasses charges such as attempted coup, terrorism, and criminal conspiracy. The trial, which began in June, saw 14 defendants acquitted.

The court session took place in Kinshasa, the capital, where the presiding judge, Maj. Freddy Ehuma, announced the verdict during an open-air military court proceeding that was broadcast live on television. The defendants, dressed in blue and yellow prison attire, remained composed as a translator conveyed the gravity of their sentences.

Among those sentenced are three Americans: Tyler Thompson Jr., Marcel Malanga, and Benjamin Reuben Zalman-Polun. Richard Bondo, the defense attorney for the six foreign nationals, expressed his skepticism regarding the enforceability of the death penalty in Congo, despite its recent reinstatement earlier this year. He also criticized the inadequate interpretation services provided during the investigation. “We will challenge this decision on appeal,” Bondo stated firmly.

The coup attempt, which resulted in the deaths of six individuals, was orchestrated by the relatively obscure opposition figure, Christian Malanga, in May. The plot reportedly targeted the presidential palace and a close ally of President Felix Tshisekedi. Malanga was subsequently shot dead while resisting arrest shortly after he live-streamed the attack on social media.

Marcel Malanga, the 21-year-old son of Christian Malanga and also a US citizen, was convicted alongside two other Americans. His mother, Brittney Sawyer, has maintained her son’s innocence, stating that he was merely following his father, who claimed to lead a shadow government in exile. Since her son’s arrest, Sawyer has chosen to focus on fundraising efforts to provide him with essentials like food, hygiene products, and bedding, as he has been forced to sleep on the prison floor and is reportedly suffering from liver disease.

The other Americans involved are Tyler Thompson Jr., 21, who traveled to Africa from Utah with Marcel Malanga, believing it would be a vacation, and Benjamin Reuben Zalman-Polun, 36, who reportedly had connections to Christian Malanga through a gold mining venture established in Mozambique in 2022, as noted in an official government journal and a report by the Africa Intelligence newsletter.

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In Washington, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller confirmed that the government is aware of the court’s verdict. The department has not classified the three Americans as wrongfully detained, which diminishes the likelihood of US diplomatic efforts for their release. “We understand that the legal process in the DRC allows for defendants to appeal the court’s decision,” Miller noted. “Embassy staff have been present throughout the proceedings and will continue to monitor the situation closely.”

Tyler Thompson was invited on this trip to Africa by Marcel Malanga, who was a former high school football teammate. However, some of Thompson’s teammates have alleged that Marcel may have offered up to 90,000 euros for others to join him in a “security job” in Congo. Thompson’s family insists he had no knowledge of the elder Malanga’s intentions and had no plans for political activism or even entering Congo, as he was meant to visit only South Africa and Eswatini, according to his stepmother, Miranda Thompson.

The Thompson family has been working with a lawyer in Utah to advocate for US government intervention. Utah Senators Mitt Romney and Mike Lee have not publicly called for US officials to negotiate the Americans’ release. “My thoughts are with the families during this difficult time,” Lee remarked on Friday. “We will continue to collaborate with the State Department for updates on this case.” A spokesperson for Romney emphasized the office’s ongoing engagement with the State Department regarding the situation.

In a previous court session, military prosecutor Lt. Col. Innocent Radjabu urged judges to impose the death penalty on all defendants, with the exception of one individual who allegedly suffers from psychological issues. Earlier this year, Congo reinstated the death penalty after a moratorium lasting over two decades, as authorities grapple with escalating violence and militant activities within the nation. The penal code permits the president to determine the method of execution, and past instances of executions in Congo have typically been carried out by firing squad.