Death Sentences of Three U.S. Citizens Involved in Failed Coup in Congo Commuted to Life Imprisonment

Marcel Malanga, Tyler Thompson and Benjamin Zalman-Polun

The death sentences of three U.S. citizens convicted for their involvement in a failed coup in the Democratic Republic of Congo last year have been commuted to life imprisonment. The decision was made ahead of a visit by the new U.S. senior advisor for Africa.

The Americans were among approximately 50 individuals, including U.S., British, Canadian, Belgian, and Congolese nationals, who were tried following the failed attempt to overthrow the government in May. In September, a military court sentenced 37 defendants to death, including U.S. citizens Marcel Malanga, Tyler Thompson, and Benjamin Zalman-Polun.

All three were convicted of criminal conspiracy, terrorism, and other charges. They denied any wrongdoing and unsuccessfully appealed the verdict. Following their conviction, Congo’s justice ministry proposed a pardon, which the public prosecutor then requested from the presidency.

On Tuesday, President Felix Tshisekedi signed three orders commuting their sentences to life in prison, according to presidential spokesperson Tina Salama, who made the announcement on national television.

One of Malanga's lawyers, Ckiness Ciamba, welcomed the decision, stating that the presidential pardon was a significant step that could signal further changes in the future. Relatives of Malanga and a lawyer for Zalman-Polun did not immediately respond to inquiries, while Thompson’s parents declined to comment publicly.

Marcel Malanga is the son of U.S.-based Congolese politician Christian Malanga, who led the armed group that briefly occupied an office of the presidency in Kinshasa on May 19 before security forces killed him. Tyler Thompson, a friend of Marcel Malanga from high school in Utah, and Zalman-Polun, a business associate of Christian Malanga, were also involved.

The commutation of their sentences comes just before a trip to Congo by Massad Boulos, the newly appointed U.S. senior advisor for Africa. Boulos, the father-in-law of former U.S. President Donald Trump's daughter Tiffany, is scheduled to visit Congo, Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda starting April 3. His trip aims to advance peace efforts in eastern Congo, where a Rwanda-backed rebellion persists, and to promote U.S. private sector investment in the region.