The move, coinciding with the DRC’s drive, signs a contract with the minerals in exchange for security in the war with Rwandan-backed rebels.
After Kinshasa finished his death sentence last week, three U.S. citizens first sentenced to death in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) were sentenced to death over a failed coup attempt.
Congolese spokesman Tina Salama said on Tuesday that three men, including the son of politically exiled Christian Malanga, who led the attack on the presidential palace last May, will all be sentenced to life in the United States.
Marcel Maranga, 21, claimed he was forced to join his father, who was reborn from the palace, during an attempted coup.
Also repatriated were Tyler Thompson Jr., 21, a young Malanga friend, and Benjamin Reuben Zalman Porn, 36, who was reportedly able to get to know his father through a gold mining company.
US State Department spokesman Tammy Bruce confirmed his transfer on Tuesday, saying the US condemned the armed attack and supported the bid for Dr. Congo’s bid to hold prisoners accountable, but called for “consistent, caring, humanitarian treatment and fair legal process.”
When the United States assumes custody of a convicted prisoner overseas, it usually agrees to sentence the country to imprisonment.
Jared Genser, a US-based international human rights lawyer, said the three representative lawyers could try to cut sentences by claiming they agreed to a prisoner transfer treaty under obsession.
“However, if the US fails to comply with such an agreement, it will be very difficult to win in such cases, as it will have a significant impact on other potential relocations in the future,” Genser said.
Billion dollar deals
The repatriation came in an effort by Congolese authorities to sign a mineral contract with the United States in exchange for security support to help Kinshasa fight the M23 rebels backed by Rwanda in the east when it clashed with the country’s conflict.
A senior US advisor to Africa’s Massad Boulos added last week that the country was in discussions on the issue, potentially including “a multi-billion dollar investment.” The US estimates that the Congo has trillions of dollars in mineral wealth.
Boulos, whose son is married to President Donald Trump’s daughter, will visit Dr. Congo to discuss tensions between the country and Rwanda.
News of the trio’s repatriation brought joy to the family. Miranda Thompson, stepmother of Thompson, who flew from Utah to Africa because his family believed it was a free holiday, said he was “excited” to let the family go home.
A total of 37 people were sentenced to death in attempted coups, including Belgians, Britons, Canadians and all naturalized Congo.
The fate of others was not immediately clear.
A member of the family said last year the man was sleeping on the floor at a high-security military prison in Kinshasa, suffering from health issues and had to pay for food and hygiene products.