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3w ago

Congo Commutes Death Sentences of Three Americans in Failed Coup Case

President Tshisekedi's decision aligns with U.S.-Congo negotiations over mineral resources and security cooperation as tensions persist in eastern Congo.

Benjamin Reuben Zalman-Polun, left, Marcel Malanga and Tyler Thompson, all American citizens, attend court in Kinshasa in September 2024, on charges of taking part in a coup attempt in May that year.
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Overview

  • Congo's President Felix Tshisekedi commuted the death sentences of three Americans convicted for their roles in a failed 2024 coup to life imprisonment.
  • The Americans—Marcel Malanga, Tyler Thompson Jr., and Benjamin Reuben Zalman-Polun—were sentenced to death in September 2024 as part of a trial involving over 30 individuals.
  • The commutation coincides with U.S.-Congo discussions on a minerals deal and security aid against M23 rebels in eastern Congo.
  • Marcel Malanga testified earlier that his father, Christian Malanga, coerced him and Thompson into participating in the coup under threat of death.
  • Massad Boulos, senior U.S. advisor for Africa, is set to visit Congo and neighboring countries starting April 3 to promote peace and investment.