DRC President Felix Tshisekedi commuted the death sentences of three Americans convicted of participating in a failed coup attempt to life imprisonment, days ahead of a high-level US delegation visit. The men—Marcel Malanga, Tyler Thompson Jr., and Benjamin Reuben Zalman-Polun—were among 37 convicted after attempting to storm the presidential palace and the residence of politician Vital Kamerhe in May 2024. The plot, led by Malanga’s father, Christian, resulted in at least six deaths, including Christian himself. The clemency, announced on national TV, followed a prosecutor’s petition and was not tied to US diplomatic pressure, officials said. The US visit, led by the newly appointed Senior Adviser for Africa Massad Boulos, aims to strengthen ties and push for peace in eastern DRC amid ongoing conflict.
Source: CNN
