DR Congo hands down severe sentences, including death penalty, to participants in foiled coup

On September 13 local time, a court in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) made a major judgment on the foiled coup case that occurred in May this year in the capital Kinshasa. Thirty-seven people, including three Americans, one Briton, one Belgian and one Canadian, were sentenced to death on charges of terrorism and other offenses.

In the early morning of May 19 this year, a thrilling foiled coup took place in Kinshasa, the capital of the DRC. Exiled former politician Christian Malanga led more than 50 armed men. The original plan was to attack the residences of the new prime minister and the deputy prime minister and defense minister. But because they could not confirm the addresses of the two, they instead launched an attack on the residence of the then deputy prime minister, Kamerhe, who has now been elected as the speaker of the National Assembly. Then they also broke into the area near the presidential office in the Palais de la Nation. The DRC military took swift action on the same day and thwarted this coup attempt. Christian Malanga and four other armed men were killed, and more than 40 armed men were arrested.

The trial was held in the Ndolo military prison in Kinshasa and was broadcast live by the DRC national television. Freddy Ehum, president of the military court of the DRC, said in reading the verdict that the actions of these participants seriously threatened the country's security and stability and committed unforgivable crimes. Those sentenced to death will have five days to decide whether to appeal. This judgment has attracted widespread attention from the international community and also demonstrated the firm determination of the DRC government to safeguard national sovereignty and security. The situation in the DRC has once again become the international focus due to this judgment, and the subsequent development is highly anticipated.