Four United States citizens have been charged with conspiring to carry out a coup d’état in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), according to a criminal complaint unsealed in the District of Utah. Marcel Malanga, Tyler Thompson, Benjamin Zalman-Polun, and Joseph Peter Moesser face charges including conspiracy to provide material support and resources, use weapons of mass destruction, bomb government facilities, and kill or kidnap individuals in a foreign country.
The men are accused of conducting an armed coup targeting DRC President Félix Tshisekedi and Deputy Prime Minister Vital Kamerhe, resulting in the deaths of at least six people. The goal of the operation was to establish a new government called New Zaire and install Christian Malanga as president, who died during the coup.
Marcel Malanga identified himself as the “Chief of Staff of the Zaire army,” with Polun as Christian Malanga’s chief of staff, Moesser as the explosives maker, and Thompson as a soldier and drone specialist. The group allegedly conspired to provide support and resources to the rebel army formed to overthrow the DRC government.
They also planned to acquire and use weapons of mass destruction during the coup, including bombs and flamethrower attachments on drones. This led to their commuted death sentences being switched to life imprisonment earlier this month.
If convicted, the defendants face up to 15 years in prison for each count of providing material support and resources, and life imprisonment for other charges. They are expected to make appearances in New York and Utah for further legal proceedings. The case is being investigated by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office with assistance from other FBI offices.
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