The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has dismissed claims that U.S. pressure played a role in the decision to commute the death sentences of three Americans involved in the failed May 2024 coup attempt.
- The DRC has dismissed claims of U.S. pressure in commuting death sentences of three Americans
- Decision to commute sentences based on petition filed by public prosecutor and recommended by Minister of Justice
- The trio was found guilty of participating in an armed plot to overthrow the DRC government
Analysts have speculated that the waiver issued by the DRC for the convicted American coup plotters was linked to the upcoming visit of U.S. Advisor on African Affairs, Massad Boulos.
However, presidential spokesperson Tina Salama refuted these claims, stating that the clemency decision was based on a petition filed by the public prosecutor and recommended by the Minister of Justice.
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Speaking to CNN, Salama emphasized, “We have no deal with the Americans at this stage on any American intervention.”
She further clarified that the decision was not made to appease the U.S., despite ongoing discussions between Washington and Kinshasa regarding a minerals-for-security partnership.
The decision, announced by the Congolese presidency, comes months after the trio was found guilty of participating in an armed plot to overthrow the government.
DRC’s botched coup
The three Americans were among a group of individuals accused of attempting to topple President Félix Tshisekedi’s government in an operation that was swiftly thwarted by Congolese security forces.
Their trial, which resulted in the initial death sentences, highlighted the involvement of foreign actors in the country’s ongoing political instability.
The coup attempt in the Democratic Republic of Congo followed a wave of military takeovers across the continent, with at least five countries, particularly in West Africa, falling under military rule since 2020.
During the attack in May 2024, the coup plotters breached the Palais de la Nation, the president’s official residence and offices.
However, President Félix Tshisekedi was not present at the time, as he rarely uses the premises.
The group consisting of 37 individuals—including Americans Marcel Malanga, Tyler Thompson Jr., and Benjamin Reuben Zalman-Polun— attempted to seize the country’s presidential palace and the residence of Congolese politician Vital Kamerhe in an effort to overthrow the government.
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A gun battle erupted between the rebels and presidential guards, resulting in the deaths of at least six people, including Christian Malanga, an opposition politician who led and livestreamed the coup attempt.
Their sentencing had drawn international attention, with concerns raised over the fairness of the trial and the broader implications for foreign nationals involved in the conflict.
The commutation of their sentences to life imprisonment suggests a shift in the Congolese government’s approach, possibly influenced by diplomatic considerations or international pressure.
