DRC prosecutors seek death penalty for 50 defendants after coup attempt
Prosecutors in the Democratic Republic of Congo are calling for 50 defendants, including three Americans, to face the death penalty over what the army says was a coup attempt in May.
Military prosectuor Lieutenant Colonel Innocent Radjabu on Tuesday urged judges to sentence to death all those on trial, barring one defendant.
The trial began on 7 June in Ndolo military prison, where all the defendants are being held.
The charges include "attack, terrorism, illegal possession of weapons and munitions of war, attempted assassination, criminal association, murder (and) financing of terrorism", according to a court document.
DRC army says it foiled attempted coup involving US citizens
Armed men attacked the home of Economy Minister Vital Kamerhe – who was elected head of the National Assembly three days later – in the early hours of 19 May.
The group then went to the Palais de la Nation that houses President Felix Tshisekedi's offices, brandishing flags of Zaire, the country's name under ex-dictator Mobutu Sese Seko, who was overthrown in 1997.
Shots were heard near the building, several sources said at the time.
An army spokesman later announced on national TV that defence and security forces had stopped "an attempted coup d'etat".
The alleged plot was led by Christian Malanga, a Congolese man who was a "naturalised American" and who was killed by security forces, army spokesman General Sylvain Ekenge has said.
(with AFP)
Read more on RFI English
Read also:
Slim prospects for peace as DRC-Rwanda ceasefire comes into effect
DRC's new PM and parliament sworn in after months of delay
DR Congo on standby for first vaccines to fight mpox outbreak
