Four Americans Charged with Conspiracy to Carry Out Coup in Democratic Republic of the Congo

In a significant legal development, a criminal complaint unsealed in the District of Utah has charged four U.S. citizens with conspiring to unlawfully execute a coup d'état in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The individuals named in the complaint are Marcel Malanga, 22, Tyler Thompson, 22, Benjamin Zalman-Polun, 37, and Joseph Peter Moesser, 67. They are facing multiple charges, including conspiracy to provide material support and resources, conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction, conspiracy to bomb government facilities, and conspiracy to kill or kidnap persons in a foreign country, among other offenses, as per the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).

Allegations of Armed Coup Attempt

The accused are alleged to have orchestrated an armed coup targeting DRC President Félix Tshisekedi and Deputy Prime Minister for the Economy Vital Kamerhe. The attack was directed at the Palais de la Nation, the official residence and principal workplace of the president, as well as Kamerhe’s private home in Kinshasa, DRC. Tragically, the assault resulted in the loss of at least six lives, including two police officers guarding Kamerhe’s residence and at least one innocent civilian.

Objectives and Implications of the Coup

According to the DOJ, the objective of the operation was to assassinate President Félix Tshisekedi, Kamerhe, and other officials, establish a new government named New Zaire, and install the late leader Christian Malanga as the president of the New Zaire. The complaint further reveals that Malanga identified himself as the "Chief of Staff of the Zaire army," while Polun held the position of Christian Malanga’s chief of staff. Moesser was designated as the explosives maker, technician, and supplier, and Thompson was identified as a soldier, drone specialist, and operator.

Conspiracy to Support Rebel Army

The complaint alleges that the accused conspired to provide material support and resources, including services, training, expert advice, communication equipment, weapons, explosives, and personnel to the rebel army formed to overthrow the DRC government. Additionally, they are accused of conspiring to acquire and use weapons of mass destruction during the coup, with plans to deploy bombs to their targets, including people, private homes, and public buildings via drones. They also intended to attach a flamethrower device to a drone for use as an incendiary device.

Legal Proceedings and Potential Penalties

Earlier this month, the DRC president commuted the death sentences of Marcel Malanga, Tyler Thompson, and Benjamin Zalman-Polun, converting them to life imprisonment. If convicted, the accused face a maximum penalty of up to 15 years in prison for each count of conspiring to provide material support and resources. For each count of conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction, conspiracy to bomb government facilities, and conspiracy to kill or kidnap persons in a foreign country, they face potential life imprisonment.

Initial Appearances and Investigations

Malanga, Thompson, and Zalman-Polun are scheduled to make their initial appearances at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, New York. Moesser is expected to appear at the federal courthouse in Salt Lake City, Utah, on April 10. Following their initial appearances in New York, Malanga, Thompson, and Zalman-Polun are anticipated to appear in Salt Lake City for further legal proceedings. The case is being investigated by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office, with assistance from the FBI New York Field Office and the FBI’s Legal Attaché Office in Nairobi, Kenya, which oversees the Democratic Republic of Congo.

This legal case underscores the seriousness of the alleged conspiracy to undermine the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the international implications of such actions. The accused individuals now face the prospect of facing justice for their alleged involvement in a