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U.S. Citizens Charged in Alleged Coup Attempt in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

A recently unsealed criminal complaint in the District of Utah has revealed charges against four American citizens for their roles in an alleged plot to orchestrate a coup d’état in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The individuals implicated in the conspiracy are Marcel Malanga, 22; Tyler Thompson, 22; Benjamin Zalman-Polun, 37; and Joseph Peter Moesser, 67. They face multiple charges, including conspiracy to provide material support and resources, conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction, and conspiracy to conduct bombings targeting government facilities, as well as conspiracy to kill or kidnap persons abroad, as detailed by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).

During the events of May 2024, the accused reportedly aimed to overthrow DRC President Félix Tshisekedi and Deputy Prime Minister for the Economy, Vital Kamerhe, by attacking both the Palais de la Nation—the president’s official residence—and Kamerhe’s private residence in Kinshasa. The assault resulted in the deaths of at least six individuals, including two police officers and a civilian.

According to the DOJ, the overarching objective of the operation was the assassination of President Tshisekedi and Kamerhe, leading to the establishment of a new governance structure dubbed the New Zaire, with Christian Malanga—a deceased associate of the accused—tapped to become its leader.

In court documents, Marcel Malanga is referred to as the “Chief of Staff of the Zaire army,” with Zalman-Polun serving as Christian Malanga’s chief of staff, Moesser functioning as the explosives specialist, and Thompson identified as a soldier and specialist in drone operations.

The conspiracy allegedly involved providing significant material support to a rebel army formed to dismantle the existing DRC government, which included training, communication equipment, and weaponry.

Moreover, the defendants face accusations of plotting to deploy weapons of mass destruction during their coup attempt. Plans reportedly included utilizing drones for bomb attacks and attaching incendiary devices to drones to harm individuals and structures.

Following the coup attempt, the DRC’s president commuted the death sentences of Malanga, Thompson, and Zalman-Polun to life imprisonment.

If found guilty, the defendants could face severe penalties, with up to 15 years in prison for each count of conspiracy to provide material support and potentially life sentences for offenses related to weapons of mass destruction and orchestrating attacks against foreign nationals.

Malanga and Thompson are also at risk of facing additional charges for unlawfully bringing firearms out of the U.S. for illicit activities.

The individuals are set to make initial court appearances, with Malanga, Thompson, and Zalman-Polun appearing in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, and Moesser anticipated to appear in Salt Lake City, Utah. Further legal proceedings are expected to follow in both locations.

The investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Salt Lake City Field Office, with support from the New York Field Office and the FBI’s Legal Attaché Office in Nairobi, Kenya, which manages oversight of DRC-related matters.

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