3 Americans Among Many Sentenced to Death in Congo Coup Attempt

A military court in Congo has sentenced 37 individuals to death, including three Americans, after they were found guilty of participating in a coup attempt. The verdict was delivered on Friday, and appeals are available for those convicted on charges of terrorism, murder, and criminal association. Among the defendants were a British citizen, a Belgian, a Canadian, and several Congolese nationals. Fourteen individuals were acquitted in this trial, which began in June.

The coup attempt, which took place in May, was led by Christian Malanga, a relatively unknown opposition figure looking to strike at the presidential palace and a close associate of President Felix Tshisekedi. The chaotic attempt left six people dead, and Malanga himself was killed while resisting arrest, following a live stream of the incident on social media, as reported by the Congolese army.

Among those convicted was Malanga’s 21-year-old son, Marcel Malanga, a U.S. citizen, along with two other Americans. Marcel’s mother, Brittney Sawyer, has publicly stated her belief in her son’s innocence, arguing that he was merely following his father, who had viewed himself as the head of a shadow government operating in exile.

The other two Americans, identified as Tyler Thompson Jr. and Benjamin Reuben Zalman-Polun, were also swept into the allegations surrounding the coup. Thompson had traveled from Utah to Africa with Marcel Malanga, thinking it was just a vacation, according to his family. Both men had intentions of traveling to South Africa and Eswatini instead of heading to Congo, a plan that Thompson’s stepmother insists did not include political activism.

Thompson’s family maintains that he had no knowledge of any coup plans or the elder Malanga’s intentions. This family perspective adds a layer of complexity to the court’s verdict and highlights the troubling uncertainties surrounding the events leading to the coup attempt.

The court proceedings saw the verdict read aloud in a live broadcast, and the harsh sentences were delivered by court president Freddy Ehume. “The court pronounces the harshest sentence: the death penalty for criminal association, the death penalty for attack, the death penalty for terrorism,” he stated, according to reports from AFP.

Prior to this, the military prosecutor, Lt. Col. Innocent Radjabu, had urged the judges to impose the death penalty on all defendants, with the exception of one individual identified as having “psychological problems.” The shift towards such stern measures comes after Congo reinstated the death penalty earlier this year, effectively lifting a moratorium that had been in place for over two decades. This change in law reflects ongoing struggles by authorities to combat rising violence and militant attacks across the country.

The situation has drawn significant attention, not only because of the involvement of foreign nationals but also due to the potential international ramifications. The defendants are now faced with a complex legal landscape as they consider their next steps in appealing the court’s decision.

The rise of military coups in Africa has been a growing concern, with various governments grappling with security issues and internal strife. These recent events in Congo may contribute to an increasing sense of instability in a region that has seen its share of conflict and violence.