A military court in Congo sentenced 37 individuals, including three Americans, to death, igniting global human rights concerns.
At a Glance
- A military court in Congo sentenced 37 people, including three Americans, to death for participating in a coup attempt.
- Defendants included a Briton, Belgian, and Canadian, and have five days to appeal.
- The coup attempt targeted the presidential palace in May, resulting in six deaths.
- Trial and verdict have sparked significant international human rights outcry.
Military Court Verdict and Sentencing
A military court in the Democratic Republic of Congo sentenced 37 individuals to death, including three Americans, in connection with a coup attempt against the government. The verdict, delivered in French by presiding judge Maj. Freddy Ehuma, has incited significant backlash from human rights advocates who decry potential violations of fair trial standards during the proceedings.
A total of 51 people stood trial starting in June, with 14 ultimately being acquitted. The trial, held in an open-air setting in Kinshasa, was broadcast nationally on TV and radio, marking a highly publicized event in Congo’s judicial history. Defendants have five days to appeal the sentences, which were imposed amid allegations of attempted coup, terrorism, and criminal association.
The sentenced individuals included three Americans: Marcel Malanga, 21, Tyler Thompson Jr., 21, and Benjamin Reuben Zalman-Polun, 36. Richard Bondo, the defense lawyer representing the six foreigners, raised concerns regarding the legality of the death penalty in Congo and criticized the quality of interpreters provided during the investigation. Bondo has pledged to appeal the decision.
A military court in Congo handed down death sentences Friday to 37 people, including three Americans, after convicting them on charges of taking part in a coup attempt. https://t.co/9sQNMJmxN1
— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) September 13, 2024
Details of the Coup Attempt
The coup attempt occurred in May, targeting the presidential palace and resulting in six fatalities. Christian Malanga, the coup leader, was killed while resisting arrest. Among the sentenced are Marcel Malanga, who claimed he was forced to participate under threat of death from his father, along with his friend and fellow Americans. The defense highlighted similar coercion and deception cited by other militia members.
The open-air military court in the capital, Kinshasa, convicted the 37 defendants and imposed ‘the harshest penalty, that of death’ in the verdict delivered in French by presiding judge Maj. Freddy Ehuma.
Brittney Sawyer, Marcel Malanga’s mother, insists on her son’s innocence and has been actively fundraising for his needs while imprisoned. Other Americans involved, such as Tyler Thompson Jr., planned only to visit South Africa and Eswatini, according to family members who maintain he was unaware of the coup plans.
Human Rights Concerns and International Responses
The sentencing has drawn severe criticism from international human rights organizations, highlighting concerns about fair trial standards and the restoration of the death penalty in Congo. The U.S. State Department, aware of the verdict, has yet to formally declare the Americans wrongfully detained. Utah Senators Mitt Romney and Mike Lee have been in contact with the State Department, yet there has been no public call for the Americans’ release.
“We understand that the legal process in the DRC allows for defendants to appeal the court’s decision,” Miller said. “Embassy staff have been attending these proceedings as they’ve gone through the process. We continue to attend the proceedings and follow the developments closely.”
Congo reinstated the death penalty earlier this year to combat increasing violence from militant groups. The government lifted a long-standing moratorium on executions, citing the need to expel “traitors” from the army. International human rights groups argue that this punitive move undermines efforts for justice reforms and fair trial practices.
The military prosecutor recommended death sentences for all defendants except one with psychological issues. Despite the death sentences announced, executions have not been carried out in Congo for nearly two decades, with most convicts serving life imprisonment instead. The outcome of the appeal process remains uncertain, with global attention fixed on ensuring justice and adherence to human rights standards.
