DR Congo Repatriates Three Americans After Coup Sentences Commuted

Three American citizens—Marcel Malanga, Tyler Thompson Jr., and Benjamin Reuben Zalman-Polun—have been repatriated to the United States after their death sentences for a failed coup attempt in the Democratic Republic of Congo were commuted to life imprisonment. The repatriation was facilitated by high-level negotiations between U.S. officials and the Congolese government, highlighting growing cooperation between the two nations. Malanga is the son of Christian Malanga, the opposition figure who led the coup attempt, which resulted in his father's death during the operation. The U.S. State Department has emphasized that bringing Americans home is a top priority, with family members expressing relief and joy at the news. Legal experts suggest that the repatriated individuals might seek to challenge their sentences under U.S. law, although such efforts could be complicated by international agreements. Details on where the trio will serve their sentences in the U.S. remain unclear.