Three American citizens who were convicted for their involvement in a failed coup attempt in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) have been returned to the United States to serve the remainder of their life sentences.
The men Marcel Malanga Malu, Tylor Thomson, and Zalman Polun Benjamin were initially sentenced to death by a Congolese military court before their punishments were commuted to life imprisonment last week. Their return marks a significant moment in ongoing diplomatic and judicial cooperation between DR Congo and the US.
Tammy Bruce, spokesperson for the US Department of State, confirmed that the three men are now “in our custody.” The repatriation comes amid deepening ties between the two countries, especially in regard to a potential multi-billion-dollar deal to tap into DR Congo’s vast mineral reserves.
US President Donald Trump’s senior adviser for Africa recently visited Kinshasa and confirmed that discussions with the Congolese government were underway. The talks focus on key minerals such as coltan and cobalt, which are essential for electronics and electric vehicle batteries.
Currently, much of DR Congo’s mineral extraction is dominated by Chinese companies. Analysts see the evolving US-DR Congo relations including the prisoner transfer as part of a broader geopolitical and economic shift in the region.
According to presidential spokesperson Tina Salama, the three Americans left the country on Tuesday after being escorted to N’Djili International Airport in Kinshasa. The DR Congo presidency emphasized that the process followed “strict compliance with legal procedures.”
The presidency described the transfer as part of efforts to “strengthen judicial diplomacy and international cooperation in matters of justice and human rights.” A total of 37 individuals were sentenced to death in connection with the coup attempt last September.
Among the others convicted was Jean-Jacques Wondo, a dual Congolese and Belgian citizen, who was transferred to Belgium in February due to health reasons. It remains unclear whether other foreigners including a Briton, a Belgian, and a Canadian will also have their sentences commuted or be repatriated.
The accused were charged with criminal conspiracy, terrorism, and attempting to overthrow the government by attacking the presidential palace and the residence of a close ally to President Félix Tshisekedi. All of them denied the charges.
The suspected mastermind, Christian Malanga a Congolese-American was killed during the attempted coup. His son, Marcel Malanga Malu, was among those repatriated to the US this week.
While details of the prisoner transfer agreement have not been disclosed, the State Department confirmed coordination with the US embassy in Kinshasa. Legal analysts believe it is unlikely the US will release the men early or reduce their sentences, despite the transfer.
