The Congolese presidency revealed that this move resulted from a series of negotiations that tabled the release of said coup participants in discussion surrounding security and mining deals, between both countries.
As per an exclusive by Reuters, the Americans’ sentences were commuted last week so they could spend their time at home, and the president announced that they had been turned over to U.S. authorities.
A diplomat who asked to remain anonymous disclosed that the Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi met with US envoy for hostages Adam Boehler in Doha last month and decided to send the Americans to the US to serve their sentences after both sides’ enforcement officials completed the legal proceedings, a recent report by Bloomberg revealed.
However, the exclusive with Reuters showed that the three American coup plotters were handed to the United States after Donald Trump’s senior Africa adviser, Massad Boulos met with President Felix Tshisekedi in DRC’s capital, Kinshasa.
“This shows that the collaboration and cooperation between the two states is growing stronger and stronger,” said Tina Salama, Tshisekedi’s spokesperson.
Earlier this month, Tina Salama refuted claims that the U.S. strong-armed the DRC into deciding against the death sentences of three Americans, stating that the clemency decision was based on a petition filed by the public prosecutor and recommended by the Minister of Justice.
Speaking to CNN, Salama emphasized, “We have no deal with the Americans at this stage on any American intervention.”
She also underlined that the decision was not designed to placate the United States, despite current talks between Washington and Kinshasa about a minerals-for-security agreement.
The Congolese presidency made the decision months after the trio was convicted of engaging in an armed attempt to destroy the government.
This follows a proposal from a Congolese senator, who approached U.S. officials with a minerals-for-security deal.
“You have heard about a minerals agreement. We have reviewed the Congo’s proposal, and … the president and I have agreed on a path forward for its development,” U.S. senior adviser Massad Boulos said after meeting Congo President Felix Tshisekedi in Kinshasa.
Failed coup in the DRC
In May 2024, several coup plotters breached the Palais de la Nation, the president’s official residence and office, to depose the current president.
However, President Félix Tshisekedi was not present at the time, as he rarely used the premises.
The coup plotters consisting of 37 people, including Americans Marcel Malanga, Tyler Thompson Jr., and Benjamin Reuben Zalman-Polun, attempted to take the country’s presidential palace and Congolese politician Vital Kamerhe’s home in an attempt to topple the government.
A gunfight broke out between the rebels and presidential security, killing at least six individuals, including opposition leader Christian Malanga, who spearheaded and live-streamed the coup attempt.
