KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo – More than 50 individuals, including six holding U.S., British, Canadian, or Belgian citizenship, went on trial Friday in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) accused of participating in a failed coup attempt. The charges, which carry the possibility of the death penalty, stem from a brief occupation of a presidential office on May 19th.
The group, which includes 22-year-old Marcel Malanga, son of slain coup leader Christian Malanga, faces a multitude of serious charges. These include illegal possession of firearms, criminal conspiracy, terrorism, and attempting to destabilize state institutions. The trial, the first day of which was held under a tent within a Kinshasa military prison, comes after the DRC lifted its moratorium on the death penalty in March.
Lawyers for the defendants, all of whom have Congolese roots, have yet to enter pleas. Richard Bondo, representing U.S. detainee Benjamin Zalman-Polun, emphasized the presumption of innocence and downplayed the possibility of extradition talks at this stage.
