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Three Americans Jailed Over Failed DR Congo Coup Returned Home (Pictures) - Foreign Affairs - Nairaland 465x3b

Three Americans Jailed Over Failed DR Congo Coup Returned Home (Pictures) (25412 Views)

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Odewaleadesoye(m): 3:28pm On Apr 09
Three Americans convicted for their role in a failed coup in Democratic Republic of Congo last year have been sent home to the US to serve the rest of their jail .

The three were originally sentenced to death by a military court before their sentences were commuted to life in prison last week.


US Department of State spokesperson Tammy Bruce said the three were "in our custody".

The repatriation comes as the US and DR Congo explore a deal to exploit the central African country's huge mineral wealth.

Last week, US President Donald Trump's senior adviser for Africa visited DR Congo and confirmed that the two countries were in talks about minerals and said it could involve "multibillion-dollar investments".

DR Congo has large deposits of coltan and cobalt, used in electronic equipment and batteries for electric cars, which are currently largely extracted by Chinese mining companies.

The three American convicts - Marcel Malanga Malu, Tylor Thomson and Zalman Polun Benjamin - left DR Congo on Tuesday to serve the remainder of their sentences in the US, said Congolese presidential spokesperson Tina Salama.

They were escorted to N'Djili International Airport in Kinshasa in "strict compliance with legal procedures", said DR Congo's presidency.

The transfer "is part of a dynamic of strengthening judicial diplomacy and international cooperation in matters of justice and human rights" between DR Congo and the US, the presidency added.

The Americans were among 37 people sentenced to death last September by a military court.

Jean-Jacques Wondo, a dual Congolese and Belgian citizen who was also sentenced to death, was in February transferred to Belgium because of ill-health.

It is not clear if the other convicts, who include a Briton, a Belgian and a Canadian national, will also have their sentences commuted.

They were accused of leading an attack on both the presidential palace and the home of an ally of President Félix Tshisekedi last May. Later they were convicted of criminal conspiracy, terrorism and other charges, which they denied.

The suspected leader of the plot, Christian Malanga, a US national of Congolese origin, was killed during the attack, along with five others. Hi son, Marcel Malanga Malu, is among those sent home on Tuesday.

Details of the prisoner transfer agreement were not immediately clear but the State Department said it was aware of the repatriation done in collaboration with the US embassy in Kinshasa, the DR Congo capital.

But legal experts say it's unlikely the US will release them or shorten their sentences, reports the AP news agency.

The Department of State spokesperson said that the US condemned the armed attacks and ed DR Congo's bid to hold the convicts able, but she also sought "consistent, comionate, humane treatment and a fair legal process".

Joseph Szlavik-Soto, a lobbyist working for the Congolese government, told Reuters news agency that it had agreed to pay for the damage caused by protesters who attacked the US embassy and other missions earlier this year. The US officials are yet to comment on the matter.

BBC

2 Likes

cmikel: 3:37pm On Apr 09
.


THIS COUNTRY WILL BE OK WHEN THE COURT AND OTHER INSTUTUTIONS CAN WORK EFFECTIVELY independently WITHOUT TAKING ODER FROM POLITICIANS.


A COUNTRY WITHOUT SELF WORKING INSTUTUTIONS WHAT CAN YOU CALL SUCH A COUNTRY


THE COUNTRY IS LIKE A ONE MAN BSINESS ENTERPRISE


.

12 Likes

Jamieb(m): 3:37pm On Apr 09
Lol, they had no option other than to send them home. Fear of sanctions . Others accused with them are languishing in jails now

6 Likes 2 Shares

Metronomy(m): 3:37pm On Apr 09
I even saw a fellow African brother being used against the peace of Africa.
Well, until I know what their actual intentions were, I won't judge them.

1 Like

YINKS89(m): 3:38pm On Apr 09
This is what Nigeria is expected of from people in diaspora but no they wont

9 Likes

Bergavis: 3:38pm On Apr 09
Who cares
Danisaint112(m): 3:38pm On Apr 09
I knew this would happen. I saw this coming. When power jam power, one must surely bow — whether right or wrong. Let them go and sin no more.

Truth is — Africa’s redemption will never come from outsiders. Only Africans can save Africa.

The day Mama Africa rises with one voice and boldly declares “Enough is enough” — that day will mark the beginning of true freedom.

But the real question remains…

Who is willing to stand at the front line? Who is willing to pay the ultimate price?

Until we raise selfless, God-fearing leaders with genuine love and conscience for their people — the cycle continues.

Africa’s future belongs to Africans — but only the brave will shape it.

5 Likes 1 Share

Ziggy02: 3:38pm On Apr 09
America sha

1 Like

Antichristian2: 3:38pm On Apr 09
Hope na prison?

But they should have been killed!

I trust Saudi or China!

7 Likes 3 Shares

bestman09(m): 3:38pm On Apr 09
American government can go to any length to save and rescue their citizens no matter the crime or offense they might have committed in another country unlike our government.
American government will also make sure that your own citizen is repatriated back to them if the person committed any crime or offense against them.

HEAD or TAIL, THEY ALWAYS WIN!

5 Likes

Pootle: 3:39pm On Apr 09
na them be that
yaksdavirus: 3:39pm On Apr 09
Z
UrPapa: 3:39pm On Apr 09
At the end of the day
There’s no universal definition of justice
They colluded to topple a government and now they are being extradited

17 Likes

CoronaVirusPro: 3:39pm On Apr 09
Jailed!

Their chest should be opened and stuffed with spices over a grill

1 Like 1 Share

harmonyglobal: 3:39pm On Apr 09
Just imagine immunity for American citizens for committing crimes on African soil.
They even flew them on private Jet

22 Likes 2 Shares

moshuur(m): 3:39pm On Apr 09
US ….world power 🙌🙌🙌
Afrobasic(m): 3:39pm On Apr 09
Africa is such an embarrassing continent.

The US would never in a million years send back coup plotters to serve the "reminder" of their sentence (a.k.a go scott free) in Africa.

Only African leaders/nations are dumb enough to see this as a win. cry

21 Likes 2 Shares

fredoooooo: 3:40pm On Apr 09
Your brothers and sister was killed because of their actions in your country .. they still veto power so you relase them .. shame on you African leaders

16 Likes 2 Shares

osuofia2(m): 3:40pm On Apr 09
Respect America. Imagine say na Nigerian, Reno go first blast you

2 Likes

Sirseedorf(m): 3:40pm On Apr 09
Sin no more...
Fiscus105(m): 3:40pm On Apr 09
Odewaleadesoye:


BBC


I think nation should start dealing with America citizens according to the offences they committed now, afterall,free money not coming from Freetown any longer.

1 Like 1 Share

Dogalmighty17: 3:40pm On Apr 09
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Christistruth02: 3:41pm On Apr 09
OboOlora:
That black one doesn't in anyway look American, probably an IPOB youth that went to the coup so he can claim asylum to AMerica.
That tribe, they are very desperate and would do anything for paper and money.
They should send him to a jail in Orlu or Mbaise where he belongs, he is no way a f88king American with that head












Meanwhile 1st to comment, I dedicate this post to MrCock, may your gentle soul continue to rest in piss Homie......... No offiensee


He is mixed race
His name is Marcel

His Congolese father was a Politician and Political Activist who dragged his son into the Coup

His father met his mother while in Exile in the United States

She said his Congolese father who was almost completely absent when she
was raising him alone Said he Wanted to get to know his Son better.
Not knowing he was going to use their Son to stage a Coup in the Congo

Imagine o!!

Marcel’s father was captured and executed during the Coup
It was because of his Oyinbo blood that he was shown mercy
His friend even followed him to the Congo and they staged the Coup together
22 year old boy who doesn’t know head or tail about the Congo or Africa

Alakoba Baba Patapata ni baba yen


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onopEcBIgXc?si=ixlOjJmAPrA0ZYR9

10 Likes

4tomandchi: 3:41pm On Apr 09
lexy2014: 3:41pm On Apr 09
Jamieb:
Lol, they had no option other than to send them home. Fear of sanctions . Others accused with them are languishing in jails now

The repatriation comes as the US and DR Congo explore a deal to exploit the central African country's huge mineral wealth.

Joseph Szlavik-Soto, a lobbyist working for the Congolese government, told Reuters news agency that it (Congolese government) had agreed to pay for the damage caused by protesters who attacked the US embassy and other missions earlier this year. The US officials are yet to comment on the matter.
Tradepunter2: 3:42pm On Apr 09
OboOlora:
That black one doesn't in anyway look American, probably an IPOB youth that went to the coup so he can claim asylum to AMerica.
That tribe, they are very desperate and would do anything for paper and money.
They should send him to a jail in Orlu or Mbaise where he belongs, he is no way a f88king American with that head












Meanwhile 1st to comment, I dedicate this post to MrCock, may your gentle soul continue to rest in piss Homie......... No offiensee

He is the son of The head of opposition party in congo
Emeskhalifa(m): 3:42pm On Apr 09
OboOlora:
That black one doesn't in anyway look American, probably an IPOB youth that went to the coup so he can claim asylum to AMerica.
That tribe, they are very desperate and would do anything for paper and money.
They should send him to a jail in Orlu or Mbaise where he belongs, he is no way a f88king American with that head












Meanwhile 1st to comment, I dedicate this post to MrCock, may your gentle soul continue to rest in piss Homie......... No offiensee

Mrcock is dead??
lexy2014: 3:44pm On Apr 09
Afrobasic:
Africa is such an embarrassing continent.

The US would never in a million years send back coup plotter to serve the "reminder" of their sentence a.k.a go scott free in Africa.

Only African leader/nations are dumb to see this as a win. cry

the president has been desperate to hand his country's vast resources over to the US in exchange for military .

african leaders fight for power. when they get it, they have idea what to do with it

1 Like

Ingriid(f): 3:44pm On Apr 09
Omo!
Indeed, all fingers are not equal.

2 Likes

Saga16: 3:45pm On Apr 09
checky619: 3:46pm On Apr 09
The “Black one” invited his friends (the other two) to participate in the coup his father planned
OboOlora:
That black one doesn't in anyway look American, probably an IPOB youth that went to the coup so he can claim asylum to AMerica.
That tribe, they are very desperate and would do anything for paper and money.
They should send him to a jail in Orlu or Mbaise where he belongs, he is no way a f88king American with that head









Meanwhile 1st to comment, I dedicate this post to MrCock, may your gentle soul continue to rest in piss Homie......... No offiensee

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