Three Americans found guilty of attempting a coup in Congo are facing the death penalty.

An appeal is planned by the lawyer for Marcel Malanga, Tyler Thompson Jr., and Benjamin Reuben Zalman-Polun.

Three Americans found guilty of attempting a coup in Congo are facing the death penalty.
Three Americans found guilty of attempting a coup in Congo are facing the death penalty.

In Congo, three American citizens have been given the death penalty for taking part in a failed coup attempt. One of them testified in court that his father, who led the unsuccessful effort, had threatened to kill them if they did not obey his orders.

A lawyer representing Marcel Malanga, Tyler Thompson Jr., and Benjamin Reuben Zalman-Polun is planning to appeal the verdict following the botched attack orchestrated by Malanga's father, Christian Malanga, in May that targeted the presidential palace and a close ally of President Felix Tshisekedi.

"According to Matthew Miller, a military court in the Democratic Republic of Congo has sentenced several defendants, including U.S. citizens, to death for their alleged involvement in the May 19th attacks against the government. The legal process in the DRC allows defendants to appeal the court's decision. Embassy staff have been attending these proceedings, and they will continue to do so while closely following the developments."

Miller replied, "I am hesitant to make a judgment on the fairness of the court process because we are still in the midst of the legal proceedings."

Americans in court in Congo
Benjamin Reuben Zalman-Polun, left, Marcel Malanga and Tyler Thompson, all American citizens, attend a court verdict in Kinshasa, Congo, on Friday Sept. 13. (AP/Samy Ntumba Shambuyi)

The Congolese army announced that six individuals, including Christian Malanga, who was killed while resisting arrest after streaming the failed coup attempt on social media, were among the casualties.

According to The Associated Press, Marcel Malanga, a U.S. citizen, testified in court that his father compelled him and his high school friend to participate in the attack.

Marcel Malanga reportedly said that Dad had threatened to kill us if we did not follow his orders.

Marcel's mother, Brittney Sawyer, claims that her son is innocent and was merely following his father, who believed himself to be the president of a shadow government in exile.

Congo court
American Marcel Malanga, fourth right, stands with others during the court verdict on Friday. (AP/Samy Ntumba Shambuyi)

Christian Malanga, a young man from Utah, flew to Africa with his father, Thompson Jr., for a supposedly free vacation. It is reported that Zalman-Polun, a gold mining company executive, knew Christian Malanga.

According to Thompson's family, he had no knowledge of the elder Malanga's political intentions, no plans for activism, and did not intend to enter Congo. They were only planning to travel to South Africa and Eswatini, as his stepmother, Miranda Thompson, revealed to the AP.

Skye Lazaro, Tyler's lawyer in Utah, urged all those who have supported the family to contact their congressmen and request their help in bringing Tyler home. The family is devastated by the verdict.

Both Sen. Mike Lee and Sen. Mitt Romney's spokesperson are in contact with the State Department regarding the issue.

Congo coup attempt court case
Weapons and military uniforms used by the accused of a failed alleged coup attempt are displayed at the first hearing of the trial at the Ndolo Prison in Kinshasa on June 7, 2024.  (Arsene Mpiana/AFP via Getty Images)

A total of 30 individuals, including three Americans, a Briton, a Belgian, and a Canadian, were sentenced to death for their involvement in the plot.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

by Greg Norman

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