Three Americans and an explosives expert face serious federal charges in the U.S. for their failed attempt to overthrow the Congolese government and establish a new regime called “New Zaire.”
Quick Takes
- Three Americans repatriated from Congo are charged with conspiracy to overthrow the Congolese government, with a fourth man accused as an explosives expert
- The plot aimed to establish “New Zaire” with Christian Malanga (who died during the coup attempt) as president, while his son Marcel was to be “Chief of Staff of the Zaire army”
- The men were initially sentenced to death in Congo, later commuted to life imprisonment before repatriation to the U.S.
- Charges include conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction, bomb government facilities, and kill persons in a foreign country
- Six people died during the failed coup attempt, including two police officers and one civilian
Americans Face Serious Federal Charges After Failed Congo Coup
Marcel Malanga, Tyler Thompson Jr., and Benjamin Zalman-Polun have been returned to the United States to face charges in Brooklyn following their repatriation from the Democratic Republic of Congo. A fourth man, Joseph Peter Moesser, identified as an explosives expert, was arrested in Utah. The charges stem from an elaborate coup attempt that resulted in multiple deaths and initially earned the Americans death sentences in Congo, later commuted to life imprisonment before their transfer to U.S. custody, according to federal prosecutors.
The U.S. Department of Justice unsealed a criminal complaint detailing serious charges against the men, including conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction, bomb government facilities, and kill or kidnap persons in a foreign country. Prosecutors allege the group conducted firearms training, acquired drones fitted with flamethrowers, and hijacked a bus and raided a Congolese police station for weapons. Their repatriation coincided with Congolese efforts to secure a minerals deal with the U.S. for security support.
Family Connections and Specialized Roles in the Plot
The coup attempt was reportedly led by Christian Malanga, who died during the operation and was the father of defendant Marcel Malanga. According to court documents, Christian Malanga was a self-proclaimed leader in exile with a criminal history in the United States. Marcel was allegedly threatened by his father to follow orders and was designated to become “Chief of Staff of the Zaire army” in the new government they planned to establish after overthrowing current DRC President Félix Tshisekedi and Deputy Prime Minister Vital Kamerhe.
“The four defendants pose an extreme danger to the community and present an unmanageable risk of flight” – the Justice Department
Each defendant had a specialized role in the alleged conspiracy. Thompson served as a drone specialist who planned to use unmanned aircraft equipped with flamethrower attachments. Witnesses reported seeing Thompson and Malanga conducting drone tests and firearms training before departing for Africa. Moesser, who has a past criminal record involving explosives, allegedly helped install the flamethrower systems and conspired to ship explosives and rifles to Congo. Zalman-Polun was tasked with recruiting soldiers and was promised a significant position in the new administration if the coup succeeded.
Investigation and Legal Proceedings
The FBI’s Salt Lake City field office led the investigation with assistance from FBI New York and the Legal Attaché Office in Nairobi. Prosecutors are seeking to keep all defendants in jail, citing them as both a danger to the community and flight risks. The failed coup attempt resulted in six deaths, including two police officers and one civilian, further highlighting the seriousness of the charges against the Americans.
“A criminal complaint unsealed Wednesday in the District of Utah charged four U.S. citizens with conspiring to unlawfully carry out a coup d’état in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).” – U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)
Marcel Malanga, Thompson, and Zalman-Polun are expected to appear in court in Brooklyn, while Moesser faces proceedings in Salt Lake City. The group’s alleged plan to establish “New Zaire” with Christian Malanga as president reflects a sophisticated conspiracy that federal prosecutors say involved extensive planning, weapons acquisition, and specialized training. The case highlights the potential consequences American citizens face when allegedly participating in violent overseas political activities targeting foreign governments.
Sources:
- Americans convicted in Congo of a botched coup attempt now face US charges
- Three Americans transferred from Congo to US, one arrested in Utah, charged with coup to overthrow government
- American men convicted of elaborate plot to overthrow Congo government charged by feds
