Americans convicted in Congo of a botched coup attempt now face US charges

Source: Associated Press

Americans convicted in Congo of a botched coup attempt now face US charges

By HANNAH SCHOENBAUM and ERIC TUCKER
Updated 6:33 PM EDT, April 9, 2025

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Three Americans repatriated to the United States from Congo this week have been charged with participating in an elaborate coup attempt aimed at overthrowing the African nation’s government last year, the U.S. Justice Department said Wednesday.

A fourth man alleged by prosecutors to be an expert in explosives was also charged with aiding the plot.

The criminal charges arise from the same set of allegations that led to three of the defendants being detained in Congo and receiving death sentences. The sentences were later commuted to punishments of life imprisonment before the men were ultimately transferred Tuesday into U.S. custody to face charges in an American court. Their repatriation came amid efforts by Congolese authorities to reach a minerals deal with the U.S. in exchange for security support to fight rebels in the country’s conflict-hit east.

A criminal complaint unsealed by prosecutors Wednesday follows a long-running FBI investigation and accuses the men of conspiring to provide weapons, explosives and other support to a rebel army that was formed to try to overthrow the government.

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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/us-citizens-congo-coup-charged-repatriated-d54b6928ccccbdefa095bd27ac5863d3