Congo hands over Americans jailed over failed coup

US officials on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, said three American citizens jailed in DR. Congo have been released.

They were reportedly jailed over a failed coup attempt, and have been handed over to U.S. custody on Tuesday.

The Congolese presidency told reporters on Tuesday that this followed high-level talks between the two countries on security and mining deals,

The presidency said the Americans had been transferred to U.S. authorities after their sentences were commuted last week to serve their time at home.

The deal to hand over the Americans was finalised as U.S. President Donald Trump’s senior Africa adviser, Massad Boulos, traveled to Congo.

The intention was to hold meetings with President Felix Tshisekedi of DR. Congo in the capital Kinshasa.

Their release comes at a time of intensifying negotiations between Washington and Kinshasa.

According to the State Department, the United States is open to exploring critical minerals partnerships.

This comes after Congo pitched a minerals-for-security deal to the Trump administration.

Ahead of the trip, Trump’s special envoy for hostage response had called on Tshisekedi to release the Americans.

“This shows that the collaboration and cooperation between the two states is growing stronger and stronger,” said Tina Salama, Tshisekedi’s spokeswoman.

The White House and State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Joseph Szlavik-Soto, said the Congolese had also agreed to pay for the damage caused by protesters who attacked the U.S. embassy and other missions earlier this year.

Soto is a lobbyist working for Kinshasa.

Congo wants the U.S. to play a bigger role in securing the war-ravaged country, where fighting in the east has raised fears of a wider regional conflict.

The violence has escalated since January, when Rwandan-backed M23 rebels made a swift advance, capturing the two largest cities in the east.

Washington is interested in securing greater access to Congo’s minerals.

Their minerals are used in mobile phones and electric cars, and are currently exploited predominantly by China and its mining companies.

The Trump administration hasn’t said how it might provide security.

But a former senior defense official said options could include providing troops or contractors to train Congolese forces.

“I hope it could work in a fashion that respects human rights and contributes to long-term stability in this important region.

“This will be very challenging in the DRC context,” the official said.

The Americans were among 37 defendants in Congo sentenced to death by a military court in September.

The coup attempt last May was led by Christian Malanga, a U.S.-based Congolese politician, whose 22-year-old son was among the Americans arrested.

Marcel Malanga, who was visiting Congo with a high school friend, said at the trial his father had threatened to kill them if they did not obey his orders.

His mother did not respond to a request for comment sent on Facebook.

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook