Britons and Americans among 37 death sentences for attempted coup in Democratic Republic of Congo

A Briton and three Americans are among the 37 people sentenced to death on Friday for attempting to overthrow the president of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Six people were killed in the failed coup attempt by opposition politician Christian Malanga on May 19, which targeted the presidential palace and a close ally of President Félix Tshisekedi.

Gunmen first attacked the home of parliamentary speaker Vital Kamerhe in Kinshasa and then briefly occupied a presidential office before Malanga, a Congolese politician living in the United States, was killed by security forces.

Malanga was shot while resisting arrest shortly after livestreaming the attack on his social media, the Congolese army said.

The defendants, who include a Belgian, a Canadian and several Congolese, can appeal against the verdict. They are accused of terrorism, murder and criminal association, among other things. In the trial that began in July, 14 defendants were acquitted.

The three convicted Americans are Malanga's son Marcel Malanga, 21, as well as Tyler Thompson Jr. and Benjamin Zalman-Polun.

Marcel had told the court that his estranged father had threatened to kill him if he did not join in. He said it was his first visit to the country at the invitation of his father, whom he had not seen for years.

As the court previously heard, Thompson, 21, flew with Marcel from Utah to Africa. His family believed it was a vacation for which the elder Malanga was covering all expenses.

The two had played high school football together in Salt Lake City. Other teammates had accused Marcel of offering him up to $100,000 to help him with a “security job” in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Thompson's family said they had no knowledge of the elder Malanga's intentions, including any plans for political involvement or any intention to enter the Democratic Republic of Congo. They said they understood the itinerary would include South Africa and Eswatini.

Zalman-Polun, 36, was a business partner of Christian Malanga.

No official information was available about the Briton, who is reportedly also a naturalised Congolese citizen.

A spokesman for the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: “We are providing consular assistance to a British national detained in the Democratic Republic of Congo and are liaising with local authorities.

“We have advocated the use of the death penalty at the highest level with the Democratic Republic of Congo and will continue to do so.”

The verdict was read live on television in the courtyard of Ndolo military prison on the outskirts of Kinshasa.

In March, the Democratic Republic of Congo reinstated the death penalty, lifting a 21-year-old moratorium as authorities struggle to contain violence and militant attacks.

The Justice Ministry said at the time that the 2003 ban had resulted in perpetrators accused of treason and espionage getting away without adequate punishment.