In a significant legal development, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has commuted the death sentences of three American citizens—Marcel Malanga, Tyler Thompson Jr., and Benjamin Reuben Zalman-Polun—to life imprisonment. This decision, announced by presidential spokesperson Tina Salama on April 2, 2025, follows their convictions related to a failed coup attempt in May 2024.
The coup, orchestrated by opposition figure Christian Malanga, targeted the presidential palace in Kinshasa and resulted in six fatalities, including Malanga himself, who was killed while resisting arrest. His son, Marcel Malanga, along with Thompson and Zalman-Polun, were subsequently apprehended and charged with offenses such as attempted coup, terrorism, and criminal association.
During the trial, Marcel testified that his father had coerced him and Thompson into participating in the coup, threatening their lives if they refused. Despite their defense, a military court sentenced them to death in September 2024.
The commutation of their sentences comes amid diplomatic efforts by the DRC to strengthen ties with the United States, particularly in securing support to combat rebel groups in the eastern regions of the country. Coinciding with this development, Massad Boulos, the newly appointed U.S. senior advisor for Africa, is scheduled to visit the DRC and other African nations to discuss peace initiatives and promote U.S. investment in the region.
This case has garnered international attention, highlighting the complexities of foreign nationals involved in domestic conflicts and the broader implications for international relations and human rights considerations.