Democratic Republic of the Congo's (DRC) President Felix Tshisekedi commuted the death sentences of three US citizens involved in the May coup to life imprisonment.
The pardons were formalized through three separate presidential ordinances, which took immediate effect upon signing last Friday and were read out by presidential spokeswoman Tina Salama on national broadcaster RTNC on Tuesday.
Three US nationals—Marcel Malanga, Tyler Christian Thomson and Zalman Pollum Benjamin— who were convicted by the Kinshasa-Gombe military court for an attempted May coup, were originally sentenced to death on January 27, with their sentences becoming final on March 9, according to the ordinances.
"[US citizens] sentenced on January 27 by a judgment that became final on March 9 shall have their death penalty commuted to life imprisonment. The minister of state, minister of justice and keeper of the seals shall be responsible for the execution of this order, which shall take effect from the date of its signature," read the ordinances.
Their sentences were reduced to life imprisonment following appeals for clemency submitted by the public prosecutor and subsequent approval by the minister of justice.
In February, the DRC president offered the US access to the country's natural resources in return for a guarantee of security and stability in the DRC. Kinshasa and Washington are currently in talks over the mineral deal, the Congolese foreign minister said last Sunday.