The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) President Felix Tshisekedi has downgraded the death sentences of three United States citizens convicted for taking part in a failed coup attempt last year, reducing their punishments to life imprisonment.
Tshisekedi issued the commutation on Tuesday, according to presidential spokesperson Tina Salam, six months after the US nationals – along with 34 others – were sentenced to death on charges of “terrorism” and “criminal association”.
Six people were killed during the botched coup attempt in May last year, led by little-known opposition figure Christian Malanga. Malaga, along with a crew of armed men, targeted the presidential palace in Kinshasa as well as a close ally of Tshisekedi.
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Malanga was fatally shot while resisting arrest soon after livestreaming the attack on his social media, the Congolese army said.
Malanga’s 21-year-old son, Marcel Malanga, who is a US citizen, was among those convicted of participating in the coup.