Africa
DR Congo coup: US, British citizens among 37 sentenced to death
DR Congo coup: US, British citizens among 37 sentenced to death
Thirty-seven people – including three Americans, a Briton, a Belgian and a Canadian national – have been sentenced to death over an attempt to overthrow the president of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The men were accused of leading an attack on both the presidential palace and the home of an ally of President Félix Tshisekedi in May.
Christian Malanga, a US national of Congolese origin, the suspected leader of the plot, was killed during the attack, along with five others.
In total 51 people were tried in a military court, with hearings broadcast on national TV and radio.
Malanga’s son Marcel, one of the US citizens sentenced to death, previously told the court that his father had threatened to kill him unless he took part.
His friend Tyler Thompson, was also given the death penalty. The pair, aged in their 20s, had played football together in Utah.
His stepmother Miranda Thompson in June told the BBC the family had “zero idea” how he had ended up in DR Congo.
“We were in complete shock as to what was happening, and the unknown. Everything we were learning was what we were getting off Google,” she said.
The third American, Benjamin Zalman-Polun, had business interests with Christian Malanga.
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Also sentenced to death was Jean-Jacques Wondo, a dual Congolese and Belgian citizen.
Human Rights Watch previously described him as a prominent researcher on regional politics and security, and suggested the evidence connecting him to the coup attempt was thin.
The AFP news agency reports that the Briton and Canadian nationals were of Congolese origin.
The court heard the British national, Youssouf Ezangi, had helped recruit some of the others who took part.
Of the 51 tried, 14 people were acquitted and freed, with the court finding they had no connection to the attack.
Those convicted have five days to appeal against their sentences.
Death sentences have not been carried out in DR Congo for roughly two decades – convicts who receive the penalty serve life imprisonment instead.
The government lifted this moratorium in March this year, citing the need to remove “traitors” from the nation’s dysfunctional army. However, no death penalties have been carried out since.
The attempted coup began in the capital, Kinshasa, in the early hours of 19 May. Armed men first attacked parliamentary speaker Vital Kamerhe’s home in Kinshasa then headed to the president’s official residence.
Witnesses say a group of about 20 assailants in army uniform attacked the palace and an exchange of gunfire followed.
An army spokesman later announced on national TV that security forces had stopped “an attempted coup d’etat”.
Local media reports said the assailants were members of the New Zaire Movement linked to Malanga, an exiled DR Congolese politician.
Malanga was shot dead in the attack after resisting arrest, said army spokesperson Brig Gen Sylavin Ekenge.
President Tshisekedi was re-elected for a second term in disputed elections last year in December. He won about 78% of the vote.
DR Congo is a country with vast mineral wealth and a huge population. Despite this, life is difficult for many people, with conflict, corruption and poor governance persisting.
Much of the country’s natural resources lie in the east where violence still rages despite Mr Tshisekedi’s attempts to deal with the situation by imposing a state of siege, ceasefire deals and bringing in troops from neighbouring countries.
DR Congo coup: US, British citizens among 37 sentenced to death
BBC
Africa
Niger’s president faces fire at home over attack on Nigeria
Niger’s president faces fire at home over attack on Nigeria
Niger’s President Abdourahmane Tchiani is facing a backlash of criticism from his fellow countrymen following his recent allegation of a conspiracy by Nigeria against his country.
Tchiani in a Christmas Day interview claimed, among other things, that Nigeria had provided a base for French soldiers near Lake Chad had established training camps for terrorists in Sokoto, Zamfara and Kebbi states, all aimed at destabilising Niger.
The Federal Government has dismissed the allegations as baseless, with National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, being the latest government official to debunk the claims.
Many Nigerien citizens reacting on social media to Tchiani’s claims against Nigeria say there is no credibility whatsoever in the allegations.
Some of them are of the view that the Nigerien leader was only looking for an excuse to hang his failure in office on after 17months of ousting his predecessor, Mohamed Bazoum, in a palace coup.
One Nigerien critic even alleged that loyalists of the Niamey military regime are under instruction to spread falsehood that France in collaboration with Nigeria and other neighbouring countries plans to invade Niger.
A Nigerien commentator, Maidalili Namu, spoke of alleged frustration of the Tchiani regime to stabilise the country as they promised to do after deposing Bazoum.
Namu claimed on Muduba Mugani podcast that the country is being ruined by those he branded 16 generals.
“You have been in power for 17 months, confined to the villa and fed with false information that clouds your judgment,” PR Nigeria quoted Namu as saying of Tchiani in a video recording.
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Namu also accused the Nigerien strongman of fostering animosity both regionally and internationally, sowing seeds of discord with Niger’s neighbors and other nations.
He said: “When it was announced that you would address the nation at 8 pm on December 25, 2024, in Hausa, Zabarma and French, the prevailing rumour was that your speech would lack originality, filled only with the usual condemnation of France, ECOWAS, Nigeria and others as our adversaries.
“Some even wagered that they would give goats or cash if you didn’t mention France in your address.
“Nigeriens are fed up with your repetitive statements that yield no progress.
“What is most frustrating is that you vindicated their predictions. Some even began to tally how many times you mentioned France, Nigeria and ECOWAS, suggesting they are conspiring to destabilise Niger.
“You have accused numerous countries, both within and outside Africa, of undermining Niger, leading some to question your mental fitness for leadership.
“Your diplomatic failures are evident. You have insulted numerous leaders from various countries, implicating at least 20 nations in a conspiracy against Niger, many of whom we have no direct relations with.
“The real issues affecting Nigeriens—economic hardship, insecurity, unemployment, fuel scarcity and the rising cost of living—were overlooked.
“Instead, we heard the same old narrative of external threats and unfounded claims of terrorist camps supervised by the French.
“You asserted that camps have been established for training terrorists in Burkina Faso and Niger—concluding that by the end of 2024, at least 400 terrorists will be trained under French supervision.
“If you possess accurate information about these camps, why do you not coordinate efforts to dismantle them instead of using this information merely as a talking point?
“You must recognise that none of the leaders you’ve insulted have retaliated; you have disparaged leaders from countries like Tanzania, Mauritania, Chad and others. If your assertions hold any truth, how can we possibly survive more than 24 hours amidst the threats you mention?
Niger’s president faces fire at home over attack on Nigeria
THE NATION
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Africa
ECOWAS refutes claims linking Nigeria to terrorism sponsorship
ECOWAS refutes claims linking Nigeria to terrorism sponsorship
The Economic Community of West African States has expressed concern over allegations directed at Nigeria and other member states, accusing them of sponsoring terrorism.
The commission in a statement on Thursday rejected the claims, describing them as unfounded and contrary to Nigeria’s longstanding commitment to regional peace and security.
It highlighted Nigeria’s leadership in the Multinational Joint Task Force, which had achieved significant successes in combating terrorism and maintaining stability in the West African region.
It stressed that Nigeria’s contributions extended beyond the subregion, underscoring the country’s role as a pillar of peace on the African continent.
ECOWAS refuted any suggestion that Nigeria, known for its generosity and dedication to stability, could be linked to terrorism sponsorship.
The commission urged all states in the region to prioritize dialogue and cooperation, calling for an end to baseless accusations that could undermine unity and peace efforts.
“The commission stands firmly with Nigeria and other ECOWAS member states against allegations that they are sponsoring terrorism.
“For years, Nigeria has supported the peace and security of several countries not only in the West African subregion but also on the African continent.
“ECOWAS therefore refutes any suggestion that such a generous and magnanimous country would become a state-sponsor of terrorism.
“ECOWAS calls on all states in the region to promote dialogue and stability and refrain from making accusations that are not supported by any evidence,” the statement read.
ECOWAS refutes claims linking Nigeria to terrorism sponsorship
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