Three Americans in alleged coup attempt appear in Congo military court
The military trial of 51 suspects, including three Americans, accused of being involved in a foiled coup attempt in Congo last month has opened in Kinshasa
KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — Three Americans accused of being involved in last month's attempted coup in Congo appeared in a military court in Kinshasa on Friday, along with dozens of other defendants who were lined up on plastic chairs before the judge on the first day of the hearing.
Six people were killed during the botched coup attempt led by little-known opposition figure Christian Malanga last month, which targeted the presidential palace and a close ally of the President Felix Tshisekedi. Malanga was shot dead soon after live-streaming the attack for resisting arrest, the Congolese army said.
The defendants face a number of charges, many punishable by death, including terrorism, murder and criminal association. The court said there were 53 names on the list, but the names of Christian Malanga and one other person were removed after death certificates were produced.
Alongside Malanga's 21-year-old son Marcel Malanga —who is a US citizen — two other Americans are on trial for their alleged role in the attack. All three requested an interpreter to translate from French to English.
