Three Americans Repatriated After Life Sentence in DRC Over Failed Coup Attempt |LAGOS EYE NEWS

Three American citizens who were handed life sentences in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for their involvement in a failed coup attempt have been repatriated to the United States.

The individuals — Marcel Malanga Malu, Taylor Christa Thompson, and Zalman Polun Benjamin Reben — were initially sentenced to death by the Kinshasa Military Court on January 27, 2025, following their role in an unsuccessful plot to overthrow the Congolese government.

However, in a surprising diplomatic shift, the U.S. government under President Donald Trump intervened, leading to a reversal of the death sentences to life imprisonment. The development marked a significant diplomatic engagement between the two nations.

Subsequent negotiations resulted in the trio’s extradition to the United States, where they will serve the remainder of their sentences. The move is widely seen as a diplomatic concession, as the U.S. has reportedly pledged support to assist the DRC in its ongoing efforts to combat the Rwandan-backed M23 rebel insurgency.

Meanwhile, the DRC military court also sentenced 37 Congolese nationals to death in connection with the same failed coup. Several others, including the alleged mastermind Christian Malanga, were killed during the attempted power grab.

The incident underscores the fragile political landscape in the DRC and the growing international dimensions of regional security and diplomacy.