US and British citizens among 37 sentenced to death in DR Congo coup trial

US and British citizens among 37 sentenced to death in DR Congo coup trial

By Navitalai Naivalurua
Saturday 14/09/2024
Source : BBC

Thirty-seven people - including three Americans, a Briton, a Belgian and a Canadian national - have been sentenced to death over an attempt to overthrow the president of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The men were accused of leading an attack on both the presidential palace and the home of an ally of President Félix Tshisekedi in May.

Christian Malanga, a US national of Congolese origin, the suspected leader of the plot, was killed during the attack, along with five others.

In total, 51 people were tried in a military court, with hearings broadcast on national TV and radio.

Malanga's son Marcel, one of the US citizens sentenced to death, previously told the court that his father had threatened to kill him unless he took part.

His friend, Tyler Thompson, was also given the death penalty. The pair, aged in their 20s, had played football together in Utah.

His stepmother Miranda Thompson in June told the BBC the family had "zero idea" how he had ended up in DR Congo.

Human Rights Watch previously described him as a prominent researcher on regional politics and security and suggested the evidence connecting him to the coup attempt was thin.

The AFP news agency reports that the Briton and Canadian nationals were of Congolese origin.

Of the 51 tried, 14 people were acquitted and freed, with the court finding they had no connection to the attack.

Those convicted have five days to appeal against their sentences.

Death sentences have not been carried out in the Democratic Republic of Congo for roughly two decades - convicts who receive the penalty serve life imprisonment instead.

The government lifted this moratorium in March this year, citing the need to remove "traitors" from the nation’s dysfunctional army. However, no death penalties have been carried out since.

Source : BBC

FEATURE NEWS
Health Ministry controls HIV medication due to limited stock
The Health Ministry is now controlling the distribution of crucial HIV medication as they only have supplies sufficient for a one-month dose per patie...
2 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
Woman to appear in Nabouwalu Magistrates Court for allegedly scamming victim of $165
A 40-year-old woman, who is facing charges of obtaining financial advantage, will appear in the Nabouwalu Magistrates Court today. Police say on ...
51 minutes ago

LTA CEO urges caution after King's Road crash that sends 18 passengers to hospital
Failure to follow road safety measures led to a serious accident yesterday afternoon on King’s Road, Vitogo, Lautoka where a bus collided with a ...
3 hours ago

Bala asks who are these sources that covered 91% of costs while DPM Prasad says Bala should do some research
Deputy Leader of the Opposition Parveen Bala says the recent statement by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Professor Biman Prasad, ...
12 hours ago

GCC members hope for a review of the 2013 Constitution
The Great Council of Chiefs hopes that the 2013 Constitution will be reviewed after the Solicitor General updated the members in today’s meeting ...
12 hours ago

Residents from Lami to Nausori likely to face water cuts due to water turbidity
Thousands of residents living in areas between Lami to Nausori are likely to face water cuts due to a steady increase in raw water turbidity levels ...
16 hours ago



fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan
Latest Videos

Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
yb
IN DEPTH
Sporting federations demand answers from FASANOC
National sporting federations who are part of Fiji Association of Sport and National Olympic Committee or FASANOC, are still calling for answers and ...
6 days ago

Continuous Radiology and Pharmacy services are now expected at Government Hospitals
Serious concerns are being raised by the public as the Ministry of Health has decided that radiology services and pharmacies at Government hospitals ...
6 days ago

Ratu Wiliame Katonivere declines Presidential nomination after an internal audit and investigation report
Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka confirms that President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere decided to decline Rabuka's nomination of him to serve a second term ...
7 days ago

TOP