DR Congo spares three convicted US coup accomplices of capital punishment

The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) President Felix Tshisekedi has downgraded the death sentences of three United States citizens convicted for taking part in a failed coup attempt last year, reducing their punishments to life imprisonment.

Tshisekedi issued the commutation on Tuesday, according to presidential spokesperson Tina Salam, six months after the US nationals – along with 34 others – were sentenced to death on charges of “terrorism” and “criminal association”.

Six people were killed during the botched coup attempt in May last year, led by little-known opposition figure Christian Malanga.

Malaga, along with a crew of armed men, targeted the presidential palace in Kinshasa as well as a close ally of Tshisekedi.

Malanga was fatally shot while resisting arrest soon after livestreaming the attack on his social media, the Congolese army said.

Read more: Al Jazeera