Military Court Issues Verdict in High-Profile Case
In a dramatic ruling that has captured international attention, a military court in the Democratic Republic of Congo sentenced three U.S. citizens to death on Friday for their involvement in a failed coup attempt. The verdict, delivered live on television, concluded a trial that has held the global community in suspense since it began in July.
The incident
The coup attempt took place on May 19, when armed men briefly seized an office of the presidency in Kinshasa, the nation’s capital. The group’s leader, Christian Malanga, a U.S.-based Congolese politician, was killed by security forces during the skirmish.
The Americans involved
Among those sentenced were Malanga’s son, Marcel Malanga, and his high school friend, Tyler Thompson. Both men are in their twenties and hail from Utah, where they once played football together. The third American, Benjamin Zalman-Polun, was a business associate of Christian Malanga.
Charges and convictions
The trio faced charges of criminal conspiracy, terrorism, and other offenses. Marcel Malanga testified that his father had threatened to kill him if he did not participate in the coup. He also mentioned it was his first visit to Congo, having been invited by his father, whom he had not seen in years.
The Americans are part of a larger group of approximately 50 individuals, including citizens from the U.S., the U.K., Canada, Belgium, and Congo, who are standing trial for their involvement in the failed coup.
The verdict
The sentencing took place under a tent in the yard of Ndolo military prison, located on the outskirts of Kinshasa. The defendants, wearing blue and yellow prison-issued tops, were seated in front of the judge as the ruling was read out.
“This high-profile case has attracted significant international scrutiny,” said a legal expert familiar with the proceedings. The trial’s live broadcast and the severe sentences have sparked debates on justice and human rights in Congo.
As the news spreads, the global community awaits further developments, including potential diplomatic interventions and appeals from international human rights organizations.