Congo coup trial: U.S. citizens allege coercion in botched coup
Benjamin Zalman Polun, Marcel Malanga and Taylor Thompson, American citizens suspected, along with a group of over fifty other people, to be involved in an attempted coup in Congo, wait for the beginning of their trial in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, June 7, 2024. REUTERS/Justin Makangara
Two American citizens, Marcel Malanga and Benjamin Zalman-Polun, on trial in the Democratic Republic of Congo for their alleged involvement in a failed coup in May, testified in court that they were coerced into participating by the coup’s leader, Christian Malanga, who threatened to kill them if they refused to join.
Speaking for the first time since the commencement of the trial, the 22-year old Malanga’s son Marcel Malanga and Benjamin Zalman-Polun told the court that their involvement in the failed coup was not deliberate.
Marcel Malanga, a U.S. citizen, testified in a military court in Kinshasa that he had travelled to Congo at his father’s invitation to reunite with him after a two-year separation.
He stressed that he has no prior connection to the country, stating, “I am American, I don’t speak French or Lingala,” emphasising his foreign nationality and language barriers.
On his part, Zalman-Polun told the court that he was a long-time business partner of Malanga but had nothing to do with planning the coup attempt.
Malanga and Zalman-Polun are among 50+ individuals from multiple countries, including the US, UK, Canada, Belgium, and Congo, on trial for their roles in the failed coup.
They face charges like arms possession, conspiracy, and terrorism, which carry penalties like death or lengthy imprisonment.
