US Citizens Among the 37 Sentenced to Death for Failed Coup in DR Congo
By The Public Lens
A military court in the Democratic Republic of Congo has sentenced 37 individuals, including three US citizens, to death for their involvement in a failed coup attempt in May.
The court’s president, Freddy Ehume, announced the verdict on live television, stating that the defendants were found guilty of criminal association, attack, and terrorism.
The defendants, who also included citizens of the UK, Belgium, and Canada, have five days to appeal the decision.
Forteen individuals were acquitted in the trial, which began in June.
Richard Bondo, the lawyer representing the six foreign defendants, expressed his intention to challenge the decision on appeal, citing concerns about the use of the death penalty in the DRC.
Bondo also highlighted issues with the interpretation of evidence during the investigation, stating that his clients had inadequate interpreters.
The attempted coup occurred on May 19, when armed men briefly occupied an office of the presidency in Kinshasa, resulting in the deaths of two security guards and the leader of the coup, Christian Malanga.
Malanga, a US-based Congolese politician, was a wealthy businessman and former military captain who had contested parliamentary elections in 2011.
He founded the opposition United Congolese Party and campaigned for religious freedom and anticorruption initiatives before his death.
President Felix Tshisekedi was sworn in for a second term in January, following elections marred by logistical issues, irregularities, and violence.
The region has experienced a series of coups in recent years, prompting calls for the Congolese government to demonstrate its commitment to human rights and the rule of law.
Human Rights Watch had urged the authorities to ensure the trial met international standards.
The sons of Christian Malanga, Marcel Malanga, and his associates, Taylor Thompson and Benjamin Zalman-Polun, were among those sentenced to death.
Marcel Malanga had previously testified that his father had threatened to kill him unless he participated in the coup attempt.
A Belgian military expert was also among those sentenced to death.
The DRC lifted a moratorium on the death penalty in March, citing treachery and espionage in recurring armed conflicts as the reason.
