In a twist that reads like a Hollywood script, 37 people, including Americans, a Brit, a Belgian, and a Canadian, have been slapped with death sentences in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Their crime? Allegedly trying to overthrow President Félix Tshisekedi.
The plot thickens with the ringleader, Christian Malanga, a US citizen with Congolese roots, killed during the May attack on the presidential palace. His son Marcel, barely in his 20s, claims he was forced into the scheme under threat of death.
Among the condemned are Tyler Thompson, Marcel’s football buddy from Utah, and Benjamin Zalman-Polun, who had business ties with the elder Malanga. The Brit, Youssouf Ezangi, allegedly played recruiter for the coup.
But here’s the kicker – DR Congo hasn’t actually executed anyone in about 20 years. Death sentences typically mean life behind bars. However, the government’s recent tough talk about removing “traitors” from the army has everyone on edge.
The whole affair started with a pre-dawn raid on May 19. Men in army uniforms stormed the parliamentary speaker’s home before heading to the president’s digs. It didn’t end well for them.
This drama unfolds against a backdrop of a country rich in minerals but poor in governance. Despite Tshisekedi’s re-election with a whopping 78% of the vote, life remains tough for many Congolese.
As the condemned mull their appeals, one thing’s clear – in DR Congo, politics is a dangerous game, especially for foreigners who get too close to the action.