Three Americans were recently convicted for their involvement in a failed coup attempt last year in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). They have recently been repatriated back to the United States. Tyler Thompson Jr., 21, Marcel Malanga, 21, and Benjamin Reuben Zalman-Polun, 36, were released. They were supported by the U.S. Embassy. The DRC, like many other countries, is keen to diversify its international relations. This repatriation lines up with the new government’s priorities of securing improved security support from the U.S.
A multi-national group of Americans and others were recently convicted after an international coup attempt. Their aim was to take control of the presidential palace in Kinshasa. This dangerous and violent coup attempt was made up of both Congolese nationals and foreign actors. Among them were Britons, Belgians and Canadians. That conspiracy was spearheaded by Marcel Malanga’s father, Christian Malanga, an opposition leader who was murdered in 1999 after allegedly resisting arrest.
Tyler Thompson Jr. traveled to Africa from Utah under the impression he was going on a vacation with his friend Marcel Malanga. Their trip took a dangerous turn when they got caught up in the coup attempt. In the wake of this attack, Congolese authorities reintroduced the death penalty, which hadn’t been used in more than 20 years. All three Americans were initially sentenced to death, though their sentences were subsequently commuted to life in prison.
The repatriation was officially announced by the DRC’s presidency, as well as by the U.S. State Department. The two countries are developing robust diplomatic and economic engagement in order to forge closer bilateral ties. They are still hammering out a bilateral minerals agreement that would enable the DRC to exchange its mineral riches for U.S. security assistance to help quell rebel troops in the DRC’s troubled eastern provinces.
Congo’s presidency stated, “This decision is part of a dynamic of strengthening judicial diplomacy and international cooperation in matters of justice and human rights between the two countries.”
Once in the U.S., Thompson Jr., Malanga, and Zalman-Polun will begin to serve their life sentences on American soil. Jared Genser—an attorney and expert in international law—reflected on the challenges in undertaking these repatriations. He noted that a refusal to enforce these settled rules on prisoner transfers might have far-reaching consequences for future litigation.
“But it would be very hard to prevail in such a case as there would be enormous implications for other potential transfers in the future if the U.S. failed to abide by such agreements.” – Jared Genser
Direct family members have said they are relieved their loved ones, the three men, are being repatriated. Miranda Thompson, Tyler’s mother, conveyed her joy at her son’s return, stating, “We’re so excited to have him on American soil again.”
This is, of course, great news for all the families participating. It would go a long way toward reinforcing U.S.-Congo relations that are increasingly shifting toward a security-focused, security-for-economic-partnership model. The DRC is home to an estimated $24 trillion in untapped mineral wealth. This amazing natural endowment makes the country vulnerable to predation by foreign stakeholders.
