Three Americans, a Briton, a Belgian and a Canadian were among the 37 people sentenced to death after an attempt to overthrow Democratic Republic of Congo president Félix Tshisekedi in May this year.
According to BBC News, US national Christian Malanga was the suspected leader of the plot. Malanga and five others were killed during the attack.
Malanga is of Congolese origin and his son Marcel – one of the US citizens sentenced to death – told the court that his father threatened to kill him unless he took part. His friend Tyler Thompson was also given the death penalty.
The third American, Benjamin Zalman-Polun, had business interests with Christian Malanga. AFP news agency reported that the Briton and Canadian in question were of Congolese origin, and that fellow accused Jean-Jacques Wondo is a dual Congolese and Belgian citizen.
They were among the 51 people tried in a military court, with hearings broadcast on national TV and radio. Of the 51 tried, 14 people were acquitted when the court found they had no connection to the attack.
The attempted coup began in Kinshasa during the early hours of 19 May. Armed men attacked parliamentary speaker Vital Kamerhe’s home in the capital before targeting the president’s official residence.
The death sentence has not been carried out in the DRC for about two decades, but the government lifted this moratorium in March this year. Those convicted have five days to appeal against their sentences.
Compiled by Staff Writer
Pictured above: The DRC flag.
Source: X
