|
A presidential order commuted their death sentences to life
imprisonment, Congolese presidential spokesperson Tina Salama
said, more than six months after a military court sentenced the
three and more than 30 others to death for the failed coup.
The pardon came amid efforts by Congolese authorities to sign a
minerals deal with the U.S. in exchange for security support
that will help Kinshasa fight rebels in the conflict-hit eastern
region.
Six people were killed during last year's botched coup attempt,
led by little-known opposition figure Christian Malanga, that
targeted the presidential palace in Kinshasa as well as a close
ally of Tshisekedi. Malanga was fatally shot while resisting
arrest soon after live-streaming the attack on his social media,
the Congolese army said.
Malanga’s 21-year-old son Marcel Malanga, who is a U.S. citizen,
was among the Americans convicted for participating in the coup
plot. The other Americans are Tyler Thompson Jr., 21, a high
school friend of the younger Malanga who flew to Africa from
Utah for what his family believed was a free vacation, and
Benjamin Reuben Zalman-Polun, 36, who is reported to have known
Christian Malanga through a gold mining company.
Marcel Malanga told the court that his father had forced him and
Thompson to take part in the attack.
“Dad had threatened to kill us if we did not follow his orders,”
he said previously during hearings.
Most of the defendants were Congolese but also included a
Briton, Belgian and Canadian. Their charges included attempted
coup, terrorism and criminal association. Fourteen people were
acquitted in the trial.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of State announced late Tuesday
that President Donald Trump’s new senior advisor for Africa,
Massad Boulos, will travel to Congo and three other African
countries — Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda — starting April 3.
Boulos will advance efforts for sustainable peace in eastern
Congo and promote U.S. private sector investment in the region,
the State Department said in a statement.
All contents © copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights
reserved |
|
