Military ​Court Sentences 37 to Death‌ in DRC for Attempted Rebellion

A military court in the Democratic Republic ⁢of Congo (DRC) has sentenced 37 individuals, including three US citizens,⁣ to ⁤death for their involvement in an attempted rebellion. The ​charges include terrorism and criminal links, as ‌well as attacking the palace of President ⁤Felix Tshisekedi and the Speaker of the House of Commons.

The sentenced individuals include citizens ​of the United States,⁤ Britain, Belgium, and Canada. Christian Malinga, the leader of the ⁤opposition and ​a ‌US⁢ citizen, led the riots but was killed ⁤during⁢ the⁢ attempt. His son, Marcel Malinga (21), a US citizen, was among​ those sentenced to death.

Two other‌ US ‌citizens were⁣ also sentenced to death: Tyler Thompson, who attended school with Marcel ⁣Malinga in Utah, USA, and Benjamin Salman Polan, Christian Malinga’s⁤ business partner.

The court acquitted 14 individuals and gave the accused five days to appeal.⁢ The verdict was broadcast live on television from​ a ⁢tent in a military prison near⁤ the capital Kinshasa. Marcel Malinga told ⁢the court that his father had threatened⁢ to kill him if he did not join the rebellion when he visited the Congo.