The President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has commuted the death sentences of three American citizens involved in last year’s failed coup attempt, reducing their punishment to life imprisonment, an official confirmed on Wednesday.
A presidential order granted sentence reductions to Marcel Malanga Malu, Taylor Christa Thomson, and Zalman Polun Benjamin, according to DR Congo’s Presidential spokesperson Tina Salama, who made the announcement on social media platform X.
The three were among 37 individuals convicted and sentenced to death in September 2024 by a military court in Kinshasa for their roles in the May 2024 coup attempt. They were found guilty of criminal association and terrorism.
The failed coup was led by opposition figure Christian Malanga, who stormed the presidential palace and the residence of former National Assembly President Vital Kamerhe. Malanga was fatally shot by security forces while resisting arrest, shortly after live-streaming the attack on social media. Among those convicted was his son, Marcel Malanga, a US citizen.
The presidential decision comes ahead of a visit by Massad Boulos, the US senior advisor for Africa, and Corina Sanders, deputy assistant secretary of state for African Affairs. The officials are scheduled to arrive in the DR Congo on Thursday as part of a regional tour that includes stops in Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda. Their visit will focus on diplomatic engagements aimed at fostering stability and peace in eastern DR Congo.