Kinshasa: The military court of the Democratic Republic of Congo has sentenced 37 individuals, including three American citizens, to death for their involvement in a failed coup attempt in May this year.
According to a Reuters report, on May 19, armed individuals briefly seized the presidential palace in Kinshasa, the capital of Congo.
The report indicates that security forces killed the leader of the group, Congolese-American politician Christian Malanga, and ended the armed takeover.
Among those facing the military court for the failed coup were the 20-year-old son of the deceased politician, Marcel Malanga, and his 20-year-old friend, Taylor Thompson, who played football in high school.
The third American citizen sentenced is Benjamin Zilman Pollon, who was linked to Christian Malanga’s business.
All three Americans were found guilty of criminal conspiracy, terrorism, and other crimes and were sentenced to death.
Marcel Malanga told the court that his father had threatened to kill him if he did not participate, and he also mentioned that he had come to Congo for the first time at his father’s invitation after many years.
The report further noted that among the 50 others facing trial alongside the three Americans were citizens from the US, UK, Canada, Belgium, and Congo, all charged with rebellion.
The court pronounced the death sentences, which were read out at the Andolu military prison on the outskirts of Kinshasa and broadcast on TV.
The condemned individuals were present in court and in prison uniforms.
The trial for those attempting to overthrow the government began in July.
In Washington, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller stated that embassy staff attended the hearings and would closely monitor further developments.
He also noted that the Democratic Republic of Congo allows for appeals against court decisions.