In a significant legal development in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a military court has issued death sentences to 37 individuals, including three U.S. citizens, for their involvement in a failed coup attempt in May. The court, presided over by Freddy Ehume, delivered its verdict during a live television broadcast on Friday, imposing the death penalty for charges including criminal association, attack, and terrorism.
Among those sentenced are a Briton, a Belgian, and a Canadian, all of whom now have five days to appeal the court’s decision. The trial, which commenced in June, resulted in the acquittal of 14 defendants, highlighting the complexities and controversies surrounding the case.
Richard Bondo, the defense lawyer for the foreign defendants, has expressed significant concerns about the fairness of the trial. He challenged the validity of applying the death penalty in the DRC, noting that while the death penalty was reinstated earlier this year, its application remains contentious. Additionally, Bondo criticized the provision of translation services during the investigation, claiming that inadequate support may have affected the defense.
The failed coup attempt occurred on May 19, when armed men briefly occupied a presidential office in Kinshasa. The group, led by Congolese politician Christian Malanga, who was based in the U.S., was met with a decisive response from security forces. Malanga and two security guards were killed during the failed takeover, which underscores the high-stakes nature of the trial and the severe consequences faced by those involved.
Christian Malanga, who claimed the title of “President of New Zaire,” was a notable figure in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). He was a wealthy businessman and former military captain who had previously sought political office. In 2011, he ran for parliament but was detained under the regime of then-President Joseph Kabila. After his release, Malanga moved to the United States, where he established the opposition United Congolese Party (UCP). His work included advocating for religious freedom in Africa and providing anticorruption training for young Africans in Europe.
Felix Tshisekedi began his second term as president of the DRC in January, following elections that were fraught with significant challenges, including logistical problems, irregularities, and violence. This period has seen a troubling trend of coups in both Western and Central Africa.
The recent trial related to the failed coup attempt has drawn attention to the Congolese legal system’s adherence to international standards. There are calls for the government to use this case to affirm its commitment to human rights and the rule of law.
On Friday, the court sentenced Marcel Malanga, the son of Christian Malanga, to death, along with Taylor Thompson, a former high school football teammate from Utah, and Benjamin Zalman-Polun, a business associate of Christian Malanga. Marcel testified that he had been coerced by his father to participate in the coup and mentioned that this was his first visit to the DRC in several years, arranged by his father.
Also receiving a death sentence was a Belgian military expert. It has been reported that most of the defendants were from abroad and that the coup was not planned or executed by local military or police forces in the DRC.
The reinstatement of the death penalty in the DRC in March was justified by the government as a response to ongoing issues of treachery and espionage amidst the persistent conflicts affecting the region. This decision reflects the broader challenges facing the DRC in addressing political instability and maintaining security.