Three Americans convicted for their involvement in a failed coup attempt in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) last year have been sent back to the United States to serve the remainder of their prison sentences.
Initially sentenced to death by a military court, the trio had their sentences commuted to life imprisonment just last week. US Department of State spokesperson Tammy Bruce confirmed that the three individuals are “in our custody.”
Their repatriation comes amid ongoing discussions between the US and DR Congo regarding a potential partnership to exploit the country’s vast mineral resources. US President Donald Trump’s senior adviser for Africa recently visited DR Congo and confirmed that both nations are exploring an agreement that could involve multibillion-dollar investments. DR Congo is rich in minerals like coltan and cobalt, key materials used in electronics and electric vehicle batteries, and much of the extraction is currently controlled by Chinese companies.
The three Americans—Marcel Malanga Malu, Tylor Thomson, and Zalman Polun Benjamin—left Kinshasa, the capital of DR Congo, on Tuesday to continue serving their sentences in the US. Tina Salama, the spokesperson for the Congolese presidency, confirmed the transfer, which was conducted with “strict compliance with legal procedures.”
The Congolese presidency further explained that this move is part of an effort to enhance “judicial diplomacy and international cooperation in matters of justice and human rights” between DR Congo and the US.
In September 2024, a military court in DR Congo sentenced 37 people, including the three Americans, to death for their involvement in the coup attempt. These individuals were accused of leading an attack on both the presidential palace and the home of an ally of President Félix Tshisekedi in May 2024. The court later convicted them of charges including criminal conspiracy, terrorism, and others, all of which they denied.
Christian Malanga, the alleged leader of the coup plot, a US national of Congolese origin, was killed during the attack along with five others. His son, Marcel Malanga Malu, was among those repatriated on Tuesday.
Earlier this year, Jean-Jacques Wondo, a dual Congolese and Belgian citizen also sentenced to death, was transferred to Belgium for medical treatment due to ill-health. It remains unclear whether other convicts—including a British, Belgian, and Canadian national—will have their sentences commuted.
The transfer of the Americans was done in collaboration with the US Embassy in Kinshasa, though the specifics of the prisoner exchange agreement were not immediately disclosed. Legal experts have noted that it is unlikely the US will release or shorten the sentences of those involved, despite their repatriation.
In response to the repatriation, the State Department spokesperson emphasized that the US condemned the armed attacks in DR Congo and fully supports the country’s efforts to hold the convicts accountable. However, the spokesperson also called for “consistent, compassionate, humane treatment” of the prisoners, with a commitment to ensuring a fair legal process.
In a related development, Joseph Szlavik-Soto, a lobbyist working with the Congolese government, revealed that DR Congo had agreed to compensate for damages caused by protests earlier this year that targeted the US embassy and other missions. US officials have not yet commented on this matter.
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