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A military court in the Democratic Republic of Congo has sentenced three US citizens to death for their involvement in a failed coup attempt.
The trio, found guilty of criminal conspiracy, terrorism, and other charges, were handed the death penalty in a televised ruling.
The failed coup attempt involved armed men, led by their leader, a U.S -based Congolese businessman, Christian Malanga, who temporarily seized control of a presidential office in Kinshasa on May 19, but was later killed by security forces.
Marcel Malanga, a US citizen in his early 20s and son of Christian Malanga, was among those on trial, along with friend Tyler Thompson and business associate Benjamin Zalman-Polun.
Marcel Malanga had previously testified that his father had threatened to kill him if he didn't participate in the coup.
He also stated it was his first visit to Congo, invited by his father whom he hadn't seen in years. Among the three Americans are 50 other individuals, including citizens of the US, UK, Canada, Belgium, and Congo, also stand trial for their roles in the failed coup.
They face charges including illegal arms possession, criminal conspiracy, terrorism, and attempts to destabilize state institutions, with some facing the death penalty or lengthy prison sentences.
The trial commenced in July. In Washington, the State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller stated that embassy staff had attended the proceedings and would continue to closely monitor developments.
He mentioned that the legal process in the Democratic Republic of the Congo allows for defendants to appeal the court's decision.
The 37 defendants include Belgian-Congolese citizen Jean-Jacques Wondo, whose family released video messages addressed to Congo President Félix Tshisekedi prior to the trial, pleading for his release.
Relatives of Marcel Malanga and Thompson did not respond to requests for comment, although Malanga's mother, Brittney Sawyer, had previously stated that her son is innocent.
Thompson's stepmother, Miranda Thompson, had previously said that her stepson travelled to Congo on vacation to explore the world.
According to the fundraising site set up by his family to support his defense, Thompson is feeling lonely and isolated in prison.
Thompson’s family have said he had no knowledge of the elder Malanga’s intentions, nor any plans for political activism or intentions to enter DRC. They have said they understood the itinerary to be South Africa and Eswatini.
Zalman-Polun, 36, was a business associate of Christian Malanga.
There was no official information available about the Briton, who was reported to also be a naturalised Congolese citizen.
A spokesperson for the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: “We are providing consular assistance to a British man detained in DRC and are in contact with the local authorities.
“We have made representations about the use of the death penalty to the DRC at the highest levels, and we will continue to do so.”
The verdict was read out on live television in the yard of Ndolo military prison on the outskirts of Kinshasa.
In March, DRC reinstated the death penalty, lifting a 21-year-old moratorium, as authorities struggle to curb violence and militant attacks.
The justice ministry said at the time that the ban from 2003 had allowed offenders accused of treason and espionage to get away without sufficient punishment.
