Americans Among 37 Sentenced to Death in Congo Coup \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ A military court in Congo sentenced 37 people, including three Americans, to death for their roles in a failed coup attempt. While most defendants were Congolese, the group also included nationals from the U.S., U.K., Belgium, and Canada. The death sentences, announced in Kinshasa, have sparked international concern, with families vowing to appeal the verdicts.
Congo Court’s Death Sentences in Coup Case: Quick Looks
- A Congo military court sentenced 37 people, including three Americans, to death for a May 2023 coup attempt.
- Defendants were convicted of charges including terrorism and attempted coup; they have five days to appeal.
- The Americans include the son of the coup leader, who claimed his father forced him to participate.
- The failed coup targeted President Felix Tshisekedi’s government; the coup leader was killed during the raid.
- U.S. officials have been monitoring the case but have not declared the Americans wrongfully detained.
- Families of the Americans, including Utah native Tyler Thompson, have expressed shock at the verdict.
Deep Look \ Americans Among
In a landmark ruling, a military court in Congo handed down death sentences on Friday to 37 people, including three U.S. citizens, in connection with a failed coup attempt earlier this year. The coup, led by a little-known opposition figure named Christian Malanga, targeted the presidential palace in Kinshasa, resulting in the deaths of six people. Malanga himself was killed by authorities during the raid after livestreaming the attack on social media. The group’s attempt to overthrow the government of President Felix Tshisekedi has led to severe legal repercussions for those involved.
The Court’s Verdict and Charges
The trial, which began in June 2023, culminated in a dramatic ruling delivered by presiding judge Maj. Freddy Ehuma in Kinshasa’s open-air military court. The 37 convicted individuals, mostly Congolese, faced a range of charges including terrorism, attempted coup, and criminal association. Among the condemned were a Briton, a Belgian, a Canadian, and three Americans, who listened to the verdict in silence as a translator relayed their sentences. The three Americans had worn blue and yellow prison attire throughout the proceedings.
Fourteen defendants were acquitted of all charges, but the court imposed the death penalty on the remaining individuals. The defendants now have five days to appeal the decision, but many of their families and legal representatives have already expressed outrage over the process.
Defendants Include Son of Coup Leader
The coup attempt was spearheaded by Christian Malanga, an opposition figure with limited recognition within Congo, but who had declared himself the head of a shadow government-in-exile. His 21-year-old son, Marcel Malanga, a U.S. citizen, was among those sentenced to death. Marcel told the court that his father had forced him and his high school friend, Tyler Thompson, also American, to take part in the coup. He claimed his father had threatened to kill him if he didn’t comply.
“Dad had threatened to kill us if we did not follow his orders,” Marcel Malanga told the court. His testimony echoed statements from other militia members, who also claimed they were coerced into participating or misled about the operation’s true intent. Some members thought they were joining a volunteer organization, unaware of the violent political motives behind the plan.
Family Pleas and Legal Challenges
The family of Marcel Malanga, particularly his mother Brittney Sawyer, has maintained that her son was an unwilling participant in his father’s scheme. According to Sawyer, Marcel followed his father out of familial duty but had no knowledge of his father’s plans. She has been campaigning tirelessly for her son’s release, fundraising to provide him with basic necessities in prison, where he has been sleeping on the floor and suffering from liver disease.
Sawyer’s distress is shared by the family of Tyler Thompson, a 21-year-old from Utah who had traveled to Africa with Marcel under the impression it was a vacation. His family insists that Tyler had no knowledge of the coup and had not even intended to travel to Congo. Thompson’s stepmother, Miranda Thompson, told reporters that their itinerary only included South Africa and Eswatini, and they were unaware of any political activities planned by Marcel’s father.
Reports from former high school classmates of Marcel Malanga suggest he had offered large sums of money—up to $100,000—to anyone willing to accompany him on a “security job” in Congo. However, Thompson’s family firmly maintains that he had no understanding of the dangerous situation he was entering.
Americans Among Legal and Political Fallout
Lawyer Richard Bondo, who represented the six foreigners in the trial, criticized the handling of the case. He questioned whether Congo’s recent reinstatement of the death penalty was being applied appropriately and argued that his clients had received inadequate interpretation services during their interrogations. “We will challenge this decision on appeal,” Bondo said, signaling a potential battle in higher courts.
Congo reinstated the death penalty earlier this year, ending a more than 20-year moratorium as the country struggles to combat widespread violence and militant attacks. Executions in Congo are typically carried out by firing squad, although no executions have yet been scheduled in this case. Under Congolese law, President Tshisekedi has the authority to designate the method of execution.
International response to the verdict has been cautious. The U.S. State Department acknowledged the sentencing but has not declared the three Americans as “wrongfully detained,” which would trigger negotiations for their return. Instead, embassy staff have been monitoring the trial, with U.S. officials following the legal process closely.
State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said, “We understand that the legal process in the DRC allows for defendants to appeal the court’s decision. We will continue to follow the developments closely.”
Political and Military Backdrop
The failed coup in May 2023 targeted not only the presidential palace but also a close ally of President Tshisekedi. Christian Malanga, the coup leader, was shot dead while resisting arrest. His son Marcel, along with Tyler Thompson and another American, Benjamin Reuben Zalman-Polun, were swept up in the aftermath. Zalman-Polun, 36, reportedly knew Malanga through a gold mining business set up in Mozambique in 2022, according to reports by Africa Intelligence.
The situation has drawn the attention of several high-profile figures in the U.S. Back in Utah, Senators Mitt Romney and Mike Lee have been involved in keeping the families informed but have not publicly pressed for the Americans’ release. “We will continue to work with the State Department to receive updates on this case,” Senator Lee said in a statement to the press.
Last month, the military prosecutor, Lt. Col. Innocent Radjabu, had called for the death penalty for nearly all the defendants, except one who was found to suffer from psychological issues. Radjabu argued that such harsh sentences were necessary to deter future attempts to destabilize the country.
Outlook \ Americans Among
As the international community watches the legal appeals process unfold, the families of the convicted Americans are urging action to bring their loved ones home. With the reinstated death penalty now hanging over their heads, time is running short for legal appeals and diplomatic interventions.
Meanwhile, Congo’s authorities are doubling down on using the death penalty as a tool for curbing violence and militancy in the region. The outcome of this case could set a precedent for future rulings in Congo’s justice system, particularly as the country navigates the legal and political challenges posed by a volatile internal security situation.
