A MAN, believed to be British, and three Americans could face the death penalty after taking part in a failed coup in central Africa.
After being arrested try to storm the presidential palace on May 19, a military official revealed that they will be treated like any enemy of the state.
12
12
12
12
Ezangi Youssouf, who says he is British, Marcel Malanga, the son of the coup leader, his friend Tyler Thompson and marijuana trafficker Benjamin Reuben Zalman-Polun were all arrested.
The four are currently being questioned for their involvement in the thwarted attempt to overthrow the President of the United States Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
“The interrogation continues,” Major General Sylvain Ekenge said The times.
“Then they will be processed and extradited to a military tribunal, not to the regular court. They must be tried here in Congo.”
The suspension of the death penalty was only recently lifted over convictions linked to the raging conflict in the east of the war-torn country.
Ekenge added that the death penalty applies “in the context of the military and those who take up arms in the insurgency.”
The chaotic coup attempt in the capital Kinshasa left six people dead, including two police officers guarding the president's residence and a motorist.
The force of about 50 men was led by Utah-based opposition figure Christian Malanga, who was killed while resisting arrest.
The mothers of Marcel Malanga and his football teammate Thompson, both 21, claim they are innocent and were tricked into taking part.
However, Major General Ekenge claims that they were still clearly caught with weapons in their hands and fighting alongside Malanga when he declared himself President of the DRC.
Youssouf, who is also described by Congolese authorities as British and lives in London, said Malanga told him their plot had “American support”.
The gunmen broadcast their short-lived uprising live from the Palais de la Nation.
The attackers filmed themselves waving the flag of Zaire, the name of the Democratic Republic of Congo during the time of Mobutu Sese Seko, a dictator who was overthrown in 1997.
Malanga was filmed saying: “Long live Zaire, long live Mobutu's children.
“Felix has fallen… We won.”
Just minutes later they were confronted by soldiers.
A gun battle lasted for more than an hour as the rebels battled security forces and some were killed in the carnage.
President Tshisekedi and his family were not injured in the violence.
Bullet holes were visible in the walls and in cars at the politician's home and windows were broken.
12
12
12
Dramatic footage also captured the moment Marcel Malanga and Thompson, bloodied and bruised, were dragged from a river after trying to swim for freedom.
Marcel's school friends said that they had been approached about a holiday in Congo.
A friend told The Times they were getting desperate but would only offer to take one person at a time.
A friend, Daniel Gonzalez, 22, said he was offered $100,000 to work as a security guard for the politician.
“I feel really sad for Tyler and Marcel, but at the end of the day I can just be grateful that I didn't go because I would have been stuck in the same scary situation,” he said.
Who was the coup leader, Christian Malanga, and why did he storm the palace?
WHY did alleged coup leader Christian Malanga lead a coup in Congo?
Malanga was a wealthy businessman, politician and once a military official in the Congolese army.
He became a U.S. citizen after his family sought political asylum there as a child.
He protested the DRC's parliamentary elections in 2011 and was arrested under former President Joseph Kabila.
After his release, he went to the US and founded an opposition party: the United Congolese Party (UCP).
Over the years, he campaigned for religious freedom in Africa and led anti-corruption training for young Africans living in Europe.
Officials say he staged another coup in 2017.
During this attempt he sang “New Zaire!” from the palace.
Until 1965, the DRC was once called Zaire.
He told the camera: “We, the militants, are tired. We cannot continue with Tshisekedi and Kamerhe, they have done too many stupid things in this country.”
President Tshisekedi was re-elected in December last year in a vote that opposition groups said lacked legitimacy.
He has yet to form an official government.
Malanga was shot dead and 'neutralized' during the violent confrontation with Congolese police.
Marcel, who grew up and led a seemingly normal life in Utah, is now being held captive in the African country.
12
12
12
12
12