Foreign Nationals Accused in High-Stakes Plot Against Congo Government

US Capitol dome with American flag flying

Americans charged with plotting to overthrow a foreign government have been repatriated from Congo to face U.S. federal charges, including the 22-year-old son of a coup leader killed during the failed operation.

Key Takeaways

Three American nationals have been repatriated from Congo to face federal charges for their alleged participation in a failed coup attempt aimed at installing a new regime called “New Zaire.”
The plot involved sophisticated tactical planning with drones equipped with flamethrowers, explosives, and weapons training – resulting in six deaths during the failed operation.
22-year-old Marcel Malanga, whose father died during the coup attempt, was allegedly threatened into participating as “Chief of Staff of the Zaire army.”
The suspects’ return to U.S. soil coincided suspiciously with Congo’s efforts to secure a minerals deal with the United States, raising questions about diplomatic motives.
Prosecutors are pushing to keep all four defendants in custody, calling them an “extreme danger” and flight risk.

American Citizens Charged with Plotting Foreign Overthrow

In a striking case of Americans allegedly meddling in foreign affairs, three U.S. citizens who were repatriated from the Democratic Republic of Congo now face severe federal charges for allegedly attempting to orchestrate a coup against the Congolese government. Marcel Malanga, Tyler Thompson Jr., and Benjamin Zalman-Polun are expected to appear in court in Brooklyn after initially receiving death sentences in Congo, which were later commuted to life imprisonment. A fourth American, Joseph Peter Moesser, identified as an explosives specialist, will face court proceedings in Salt Lake City. The charges stem from a failed 2023 plot to overthrow Congo’s government and establish a new regime called “New Zaire.”

The Justice Department has charged the men with serious offenses including conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction, bombing government facilities, and conspiring to kill or kidnap persons in a foreign country. The FBI investigation revealed meticulous planning involving weapons acquisition, drone technology with flamethrower attachments, and military-style training. The plot specifically targeted DRC President Félix Tshisekedi and Deputy Prime Minister Vital Kamerhe, revealing the ambitious scope of the attempted overthrow that ultimately resulted in the deaths of six people, including two police officers and a civilian.

Family Connections and Coercion Claims

At the center of this international conspiracy is a disturbing family dynamic. Marcel Malanga, only 22 years old, was allegedly pressured into participating by his father, Christian Malanga, a self-proclaimed Congolese opposition leader who died during the coup attempt. According to investigators, the elder Malanga threatened his son to follow orders and offered money to recruit others. Marcel was designated to serve as “Chief of Staff of the Zaire army” in the planned new government, while Zalman-Polun was promised a role in the new administration if the coup succeeded. This family-led plot raises questions about radicalization within expatriate communities and the exploitation of family relationships for political extremism.

“Chief of Staff of the Zaire army” – Marcel Malanga

The criminal complaint details how the coup plotters had specific roles: Marcel as military chief, Zalman-Polun as Christian Malanga’s chief of staff, Thompson as a drone specialist and soldier, and Moesser as the explosives expert. Witnesses reported seeing Thompson and the younger Malanga conducting drone tests and firearms training in the United States before departing for Africa. The group allegedly hijacked a bus and raided a police station in Congo to acquire weapons, demonstrating escalating criminal activity as the plot progressed. Their planning shows a concerning level of sophistication often seen in militant extremist operations.

Suspicious Timing of Repatriation

The timing of these Americans’ return to U.S. soil raises eyebrows about potential political motivations beyond simple justice. Their repatriation conspicuously coincided with Congolese efforts to secure a minerals deal with the United States in exchange for security support. This timing suggests that the DRC government may have used these American prisoners as bargaining chips to gain leverage in negotiations over the country’s valuable natural resources. Once again, we see the Biden administration potentially entangled in questionable foreign dealings where economic interests and political calculations supersede straightforward application of justice.

“The four defendants pose an extreme danger to the community and present an unmanageable risk of flight” – the Justice Department

The Justice Department is aggressively seeking to keep all four defendants in custody, describing them as an “extreme danger to the community” with an “unmanageable risk of flight.” Moesser’s criminal record involving explosives and Thompson’s technical expertise with drone weaponry have particularly concerned authorities. The FBI investigation, led by the Salt Lake City field office with assistance from FBI New York and the Legal Attaché Office in Nairobi, highlights the serious international dimensions of this case and the resources being deployed to prosecute these American citizens allegedly involved in foreign insurrection activities.