Three Americans convicted in connection with a botched coup attempt in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are returning to the U.S. to complete their prison sentences after their death sentences were recently commuted to life in prison. The U.S. Department of State confirmed that the convicts, Marcel Malanga Malu, Tylor Thomson, and Zalman Polun Benjamin, left Kinshasa on Tuesday. Their repatriation aligns with ongoing discussions between the U.S. and DRC regarding the country's vast mineral resources, with potential for significant investments. The three men are among a group of 37 individuals previously sentenced to death by a military court.
**Three Americans Involved in Failed DR Congo Coup Repurposed to Serve Sentences in the U.S.**
**Three Americans Involved in Failed DR Congo Coup Repurposed to Serve Sentences in the U.S.**
Three U.S. citizens sentenced for their roles in a failed coup attempt in the Democratic Republic of Congo have been repatriated to serve their time in the United States following a commutation of their death sentences.
The three Americans involved in a failed coup attempt in the Democratic Republic of Congo have been repatriated to the United States to finish their prison terms following last week’s commutation of their death sentences to life imprisonment. Marcel Malanga Malu, Tylor Thomson, and Zalman Polun Benjamin left Kinshasa for N'Djili International Airport under strict legal compliance, as confirmed by Congolese presidential spokesperson Tina Salama. The transfer marks a move to enhance judicial cooperation between the U.S. and the DRC while fostering discussions about exploiting the DRC’s vast mineral deposits. The U.S. Department of State reported coordination on the repatriation in partnership with the U.S. embassy in Kinshasa.
The three men were among 37 sentenced to death by a military court last September, charged with terrorism and criminal conspiracy linked to an attack on the presidential palace and the residence of an ally of President Félix Tshisekedi. Despite their denials, U.S. officials clarified their support for the DRC's accountability measures regarding the armed attacks, though they are unlikely to shorten sentences. Reports also highlighted ongoing discussions between the U.S. and DRC about potential multibillion-dollar investments related to the country's rich deposits of coltan and cobalt. In contrasting circumstances, a dual Congolese-Belgian citizen previously sentenced to death was sent to Belgium due to health issues.
The three men were among 37 sentenced to death by a military court last September, charged with terrorism and criminal conspiracy linked to an attack on the presidential palace and the residence of an ally of President Félix Tshisekedi. Despite their denials, U.S. officials clarified their support for the DRC's accountability measures regarding the armed attacks, though they are unlikely to shorten sentences. Reports also highlighted ongoing discussions between the U.S. and DRC about potential multibillion-dollar investments related to the country's rich deposits of coltan and cobalt. In contrasting circumstances, a dual Congolese-Belgian citizen previously sentenced to death was sent to Belgium due to health issues.
