The president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, (DRC) Felix Tshisekedi, has reduced the death sentences of three American citizens to life in prison. The three were convicted for taking part in a failed coup attempt in May 2024.
Marcel Malanga, 21, Tyler Thompson Jr., 21, and Benjamin Reuben Zalman-Polun, 36 — were sentenced to death in September by a military court, along with 34 others. The group was charged with terrorism and criminal association after trying to overthrow the government. Six people were killed in the attack.
The coup was led by opposition figure Christian Malanga, who livestreamed the assault and was later shot and killed by Congolese forces. His targets were the presidential palace and the home of politician Vital Kamerhe, an ally of Tshisekedi.
Marcel, the son of Christian, testified that his father forced him and his friend Thompson to join the plot. “Dad had threatened to kill us if we did not follow his orders,” he told the court.
Meanwhile, Zalman-Polun was linked to Christian through a gold mining business.
Most of those convicted for their involvement in the attempted rebellion were Congolese, but the group also included a Briton, a Belgian, and a Canadian.
Presidential spokesperson Tina Salama said the commutation was based on a clemency petition from the public prosecutor and a recommendation from the justice minister, and is not related to any U.S. deal, despite ongoing negotiations between Congolese authorities and Washington over a deal that would exchange DRC minerals for U.S. security support.
The talks come as the DRC grapples with an escalating conflict in its eastern region, where government forces are engaged in fierce battles against Rwanda-linked rebels.
The announcement came just ahead of a planned visit by U.S. officials to the DRC. Massad Boulos, the Trump administration’s newly appointed senior adviser for Africa, and Corina Sanders, a deputy assistant secretary of state, are scheduled to travel to the DRC this month to discuss security cooperation and investment opportunities.
The U.S. State Department has not yet commented on the clemency decision.
