Americans' death sentences in Congo commuted amid US talks
Three Americans, who had been sentenced to death for their involvement in last year's failed coup in the Democratic Republic of Congo, have had their sentences commuted to life imprisonment and have returned to the United States, where they will serve the remainder of their prison terms, wrote the spokesperson for President Felix Tshisekedi, Tina Salama, on X on Tuesday.
The Americans, who were sentenced to death for participating in a failed coup in the Democratic Republic of Congo, have now returned to the United States. Their sentences were recently commuted to life imprisonment. This information was provided by the spokesperson for the President of the DR Congo, Tina Salama, on the X platform.
Spokesperson for the US Department of State, Tammy Bruce, confirmed at a press conference that Benjamin Reuben Zalman-Polun, Tyler Thompsontrzej, and Marcel Malanga, who led the attack on the presidential palace in May last year, have been transferred to US custody.
A total of 37 people were sentenced to death in connection with the alleged coup, including a Belgian, a Briton, and a Canadian, all naturalised Congolese.
Trump's advisor intervened
The decision to send the coup plotters back to the USA was made following a visit by Massad Boulos, a senior advisor to President Donald Trump, in the DR Congo. He discussed with President Felix Tshisekedi the potential involvement of the USA in mineral extraction and investments in exchange for ensuring security in the war with rebels supported by Rwanda.
The Trump administration did not disclose how it might ensure this security, but a former defence department official suggested that it might involve sending soldiers or trainers to train Congolese forces.
According to the Modern War Institute, if the USA rejects Tshisekedi's request, the DR Congo might seek help from Russia, which is extending its presence in Africa.
The eastern part of the DR Congo is rich in minerals, including cobalt, which is crucial for the production of mobile phones and electric cars. Currently, most of these resources are exploited by China.
