Three Americans stood trial alongside dozens of Congolese citizens in Kinshasa on Friday, facing charges related to what authorities have labeled a "failed coup" attempt. The charges include terrorism, attempted assassination, and murder, following last month's alleged plot targeting President Felix Tshisekedi's administration.
The trial, held in an open-air military court, was broadcast live on local television, displaying a line-up of defendants seated on plastic chairs. The proceedings are the result of a violent incident in which six people were killed during an attack led by the opposition figure Christian Malanga. Malanga was shot dead after live-streaming the attack, according to the Congolese army.
The 53 defendants, facing charges that could lead to the death penalty, include Malanga's 21-year-old son, Marcel Malanga, a U.S. citizen, and two other Americans. The court proceedings were hampered by language barriers, as the defendants required translations from French to English. Initially, a military official struggled with translation, leading to a journalist's appointment, who also faced difficulties.
American Defendants and Family Reactions
Marcel Malanga expressed frustration over the inadequate translation during his questioning. Tyler Thompson Jr., another American defendant, appeared visibly anxious as he confirmed his identity. Thompson's family, based in Utah, discovered the hearing too late to attend but expressed relief upon confirming his survival. His stepmother, Miranda Thompson, remains concerned for his well-being and maintains that Thompson was unaware of any coup plans, believing he was on a vacation organized by the elder Malanga.
Marcel Malanga's mother, Brittney Sawyer, insists on her son's innocence, stating he merely followed his father, who saw himself as the leader of an exiled government. Both families are crowdfunding for legal expenses and to attend future court dates, worried about their sons' health, with Marcel suffering from liver disease and Thompson having contracted malaria.
Third American and Other Defendants
The third American on trial, Benjamin Reuben Zalman-Polun, 36, appeared less prominently. Zalman-Polun, who has a prior conviction for marijuana trafficking, is believed to have connections to Christian Malanga through a gold mining venture in Mozambique.
Jean-Jacques Wondo, a Belgian-Congolese researcher on political and security issues, also faced charges. Human Rights Watch has called for his release, citing the lack of credible evidence against him, which seemingly hinges on a photo from 2016.
The trial is set to continue next Friday as the court examines the complex web of accusations and evidence against the defendants.
