Kinshasa, Sep 14 (V7N) – A military court in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) has sentenced 37 people to death for their involvement in an assassination attempt and coup plot against President Felix Tshisekedi. Among those sentenced, 31 are Congolese nationals, while others include three Americans, one Briton, one Belgian, and one Canadian.

According to a report from Al Jazeera, the coup attempt, led by opposition figure Christian Malanga, took place on May 19, resulting in the deaths of six people. The attack targeted a key aide to President Tshisekedi. Malanga was killed during the attempted coup by security forces, while 51 individuals were arrested in connection with the incident.

After a three-and-a-half-month trial, 37 defendants were sentenced to death on Friday, while 14 others were acquitted. Notably, Marcel Malanga, the 20-year-old son of Christian Malanga, was among those condemned to death. During the trial, Marcel claimed that he was coerced into participating in the coup attempt by his father, who had threatened to kill him if he refused.

The convicted individuals have five days to appeal the court's decision.

Although the death penalty is legal in DR Congo, its use has been discouraged in recent years. This ruling marks the first time in nearly two decades that the death penalty has been imposed in the country.

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