Congo repatriates three Americans facing death penalty due to a failed coup

These three Americans participated The Coup attempt in Congo Repatriated to the United States last year Their death penalty is for commuting The Congolese president said on Tuesday that his life was imprisoned.

Congolese presidential spokesman Tina Salama said on X that the three will make a judgment in the United States after working with the U.S. embassy for repatriation.

Federal prosecutors announced a criminal lawsuit in Utah on Wednesday, accusing all three defendants – Marcel Malanga, 22; Tyler Thompson, 22; Benjamin Zalman-Polun, 37, and Joseph Peter Moesser, 67, of several charges related to conspiring to illegally execute a coup in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Malanga, Thompson and Zalman Pollen will make their first appearance in the federal court in Brooklyn, the Justice Department said in a statement. Further legal proceedings will be held in Salt Lake City, Utah. Moesser is expected to appear in federal court in Salt Lake City on April 10.

The State Department said they realized they were transferred to U.S. detention centers and turned the issue over to the Justice Department.

“They are in our custody and we also strongly condemn the armed attacks of May 19 and support those responsible for responding to the responsibility of the Democratic Republic of the Congo,” State Department spokesman Tammy Bruce said in a press conference on Tuesday. “At the same time, we seek a consistent, compassionate, humane treatment and fair legal proceedings on behalf of those U.S. citizens.”

Malanga is the son of opposition figure Christian Malanga, who led a foiled coup attempt against the Presidential Palace in Kinshasa. Congolese authorities said that Elder Malanga, who was broadcast live from the palace during the attempt, was subsequently killed while resisting arrest.

Malanga declared himself the “new president of Zaire”, a wealthy businessman and former captain of the Congolese army. He participated in the election in 2011 but was arrested and detained for several weeks. Marcel Malanga said his father forced him to participate in an attempt to break out against a coup that killed six people.

Thompson is also a friend of young Malanga who flew from Utah to Africa because his family believed it was a free vacation, and Zalman-Polun of Christian Malanga reportedly met through a gold mining company.

The news of their repatriation brought joy to the family. Thompson’s stepmother Miranda Thompson told the Associated Press that they did not have all the details of the return, “but we are happy to send him to American land again.”

The Amnesty and Repatriation Bureau will help Kinshasa in reasons why the Congolese authorities work to sign a mineral agreement with the United States in exchange for security support. The East of the Conflict of the Country.

The release of the U.S. citizen comes a week after the State Department announced the appointment of Massad Boulos as senior African adviser. Bruce’s office said Bruce traveled to the Democratic Republic of the Congo on April 3 and met with government officials and business leaders “efforts to promote lasting peace” and “promote U.S. private-sector investment in the region.”

Blos confirmed last week that the countries were in talks on the issue and said it could involve “billions of dollars in investment.” The United States estimates Congo has trillions of dollars Mineral Wealthmost of them are undeveloped.

“This decision is part of a dynamic in strengthening judicial diplomacy and international cooperation in judicial and human rights matters between the two countries,” the Congolese president said on Tuesday.

Dozens of others were convicted after the coup attempt, most of them Congolese, but also included British, Belgian and Canadians. The allegations include terrorism, murder, crime associations and illegal possession of weapons.

The fate of others is still unclear.

Congo resumed its death penalty last year, and more than two moratoriums were lifted as authorities worked to curb violence and armed attacks.

Family members last year said the people sleep in high-security military prisons on the floor Kinshasastruggling with health issues and having to pay for food and sanitary products.