The President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Felix Tshisekedi, has commuted the death sentences of three American citizens convicted of participating in a failed coup attempt in Kinshasa last year.
This decision, announced by Congolese presidential spokesperson Tina Salama, reduces their sentences to life imprisonment.
The three Americans, Tyler Thompson Jr., Marcel Malanga, and Benjamin Reuben Zalman-Polun, were among more than 30 individuals sentenced to death by a military court for their roles in the coup attempt.
The decision comes more than six months after their conviction and follows ongoing diplomatic discussions, including negotiations on a minerals agreement between the U.S. and Congo that involves security assistance to combat rebels in the country’s eastern regions.
The coup attempt, which took place last year, was orchestrated by opposition figure Christian Malanga. It targeted the presidential palace and an ally of President Tshisekedi.
The attack resulted in six deaths. Malanga was shot and killed by Congolese forces after he live-streamed the incident on social media.
Marcel Malanga, the 21-year-old son of Christian Malanga, was among those convicted.
He was accompanied by Tyler Thompson Jr., also 21, who had traveled to Africa from Utah, reportedly believing he was on a free vacation.
The third American, 36-year-old Benjamin Reuben Zalman-Polun, had connections to Malanga through a gold mining business.
During the trial, Marcel Malanga testified that his father had coerced him and Thompson into participating in the coup under threat of death.
The case also involved other foreign nationals, including a British, Belgian, and Canadian citizen, alongside Congolese defendants. Fourteen individuals were acquitted of all charges.
In related developments, the U.S. Department of State announced that President Donald Trump’s new senior advisor for Africa, Massad Boulos, will visit Congo, Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda beginning April 3.
The visit aims to promote sustainable peace in eastern Congo and encourage U.S. private sector investment in the region.
