Americans convicted in Congo of a botched coup attempt now face US charges

Three Americans who were repatriated to the United States from Congo have been charged by the U.S. Justice Department with orchestrating a complex coup attempt aimed at overthrowing the government of the African nation. Additionally, a fourth man, described as a bomb-making expert, has also been charged for his involvement in the plot.

The allegations stem from a series of events that led to three of the defendants being detained in Congo and initially receiving death sentences, which were later commuted to life imprisonment. The Justice Department claims that the men provided training, weapons, equipment, and other support to a rebel army that was formed in an attempt to overthrow the Congolese government last year.

One of the accused individuals is 22-year-old Marcel Malanga, the son of opposition figure Christian Malanga, who reportedly led the failed coup attempt targeting the presidential palace in Kinshasa. Christian Malanga, who livestreamed from the palace during the incident, was killed while resisting arrest by Congolese authorities.

The ultimate goal of the plot, according to prosecutors, was to establish a new government called New Zaire and install Christian Malanga as its president. Marcel Malanga identified himself as the “Chief of Staff of the Zaire army” and played a leadership role in the rebel forces, as per court documents.

The three Americans, Marcel Malanga, Tyler Thompson (22), and Benjamin Zalman-Polun (37), initially received death sentences in Congo, which were later commuted to life imprisonment before they were repatriated to the U.S. They were expected to appear in court in Brooklyn. The fourth individual, Joseph Peter Moesser (67), was scheduled to appear in Salt Lake City the following day.