https://en.sputniknews.africa/20240609/us-british-citizens-among-accused-on-trial-in-drc-regarding-failed-coup-attempt-1066948724.html

US, British Citizens Among Accused on Trial in DRC Regarding Failed Coup Attempt

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An attack on the presidential palace and home of Deputy Prime Minister Vital Kamerhe in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on May 19, led by US-based... 09.06.2024, Sputnik Africa

2024-06-09T15:53+0200

2024-06-10T12:50+0200

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A total of 53 defendants, including six with US, British, Canadian, or Belgian citizenship, appeared in court in the DRC on Friday to be charged with participating in a thwarted coup and other offenses that are punishable by death.The defendants include Marcel Malanga, who is the 22-year-old son of Christian Malanga. The US citizens, in addition to both of the Malangas, also include Tyler Thompson and Benjamin Reuben Zalman-Polun, convicted marijuana traffickers.The military trial began inside a tent in the courtyard of the Ndolo military prison, which is located outside the capital, Kinshasa, according to media reports. All 53 are charged with offenses including unlawful possession of weapons, criminal conspiracy, terrorism, and attempts to destabilize state institutions and compromise the integrity of the state; some of these offenses carry the possibility of long periods of imprisonment or even the death penalty, a moratorium on which was lifted in March.Last month, there was a shooting outside the residence of Deputy Prime Minister and candidate for speaker of the DRC's lower house of parliament, Vital Kamerhe, as armed men tried to break into the residences of President Felix Tshisekedi and other government officials in an attempted coup. According to witnesses, they were dressed in uniforms with Zairean flags, and they could also be heard speaking in English and French.

https://en.sputniknews.africa/20240602/investigation-into-attempted-coup-in-drc-concluded-report-says-1066846625.html

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US, British Citizens Among Accused on Trial in DRC Regarding Failed Coup Attempt

15:53 09.06.2024 (Updated: 12:50 10.06.2024)

© AP Photo / Samy Ntumba ShambuyiTyler Thompson Jr, addresses the court in Kinshasa with 52 other defendants Friday, June 7, 2024, accused of a role in last month's attempted coup in Congo, led by little-known opposition figure Christian Malanga, in which six people were killed.

Tyler Thompson Jr, addresses the court in Kinshasa with 52 other defendants Friday, June 7, 2024, accused of a role in last month's attempted coup in Congo, led by little-known opposition figure Christian Malanga, in which six people were killed. - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 09.06.2024

Christina Glazkova

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An attack on the presidential palace and home of Deputy Prime Minister Vital Kamerhe in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on May 19, led by US-based Christian Malanga, a vocal opponent of the government and a prominent member of the Congolese diaspora in the US, resulted in the deaths of six people, including Malanga, and dozens of arrests.

The defendants include Marcel Malanga, who is the 22-year-old son of Christian Malanga. The US citizens, in addition to both of the Malangas, also include Tyler Thompson and Benjamin Reuben Zalman-Polun, convicted marijuana traffickers.

The military trial began inside a tent in the courtyard of the Ndolo military prison, which is located outside the capital, Kinshasa, according to media reports. All 53 are charged with offenses including unlawful possession of weapons, criminal conspiracy, terrorism, and attempts to destabilize state institutions and compromise the integrity of the state; some of these offenses carry the possibility of long periods of imprisonment or even the death penalty, a moratorium on which was lifted in March.

DRC coup Kinshasa May 2024 - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 02.06.2024

Sub-Saharan Africa

Investigation Into Attempted Coup in DRC Concluded, Report Says

2 June 2024, 17:12

Last month, there was a shooting outside the residence of Deputy Prime Minister and candidate for speaker of the DRC's lower house of parliament, Vital Kamerhe, as armed men tried to break into the residences of President Felix Tshisekedi and other government officials in an attempted coup. According to witnesses, they were dressed in uniforms with Zairean flags, and they could also be heard speaking in English and French.