The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) President Felix Tshisekedi has downgraded the death sentences of three United States citizens convicted for taking part in a failed coup attempt last year, reducing their punishments to life imprisonment.

President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Felix Tshisekedi on Tuesday granted a presidential pardon to several coup plotters of American origin, who had been sentenced to death, according to official sources.

The three Americans had their sentences reduced to life imprisonment ahead of an expected visit from a Trump official.

Felix Tshisekedi has commuted the death sentences of three Americans convicted of attempting a coup to life imprisonment.

President Felix Tshisekedi has commuted death sentences handed to three Americans to life imprisonment for involvement in what the army said was a failed coup bid in DR Congo last year, according to an announcement. Marcel Malanga, Tyler Thompson and Benjamin Zalman-Polun are being held in a military prison in the capital, Kinshasa.

M23 fighters, backed by Rwanda, continue to advance in eastern DR Congo. While the rebels are outnumbered by the Congolese army, DW examines whether the military has the capacity to respond effectively.

Since gaining independence from Belgium in 1960, the Democratic Republic of Congo has seen recurrent armed conflict, political tensions, regional power struggles and battles over its natural resources.

KAMPALA, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Military leaders from Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have called on local armed groups operating in the volatile eastern DRC to surrender and ...