Three American citizens who were sentenced to death by a military tribunal in the Democratic Republic of Congo for their involvement in a failed coup attempt against President Félix Tshisekedi’s government have been repatriated to the United States to serve their sentences. The trio had attempted to overthrow the government in September 2024, targeting the presidential palace in Kinshasa.
Among the individuals is 21-year-old Marcel Malanga, the son of opposition figure Christian Malanga, who reportedly led the failed coup. The elder Malanga, who had livestreamed from the palace during the attempted coup, was killed by Congolese forces while resisting arrest. Marcel Malanga claimed his father coerced him into participating in the attack.
Alongside him were Tyler Thompson Jr., 21, who had traveled to Africa under the impression that he was going on vacation, and 36-year-old Benjamin Reuben Zalman-Polun, who was said to have connections to the elder Malanga through a gold mining enterprise.
The U.S. Department of State, while condemning the violent attacks on May 19, expressed its support for the Congolese government’s efforts to hold those responsible accountable, while also emphasizing the importance of humane treatment and a fair legal process for U.S. citizens involved.
The repatriation occurred amid ongoing negotiations between the U.S. and Congolese authorities concerning a potential minerals deal, which could involve U.S. support in the DRC’s ongoing battle against the M23 rebel group, which has been advancing rapidly in the eastern regions of the country, particularly in North and South Kivu.
