Three Americans Found Guilty in DR Congo Coup Attempt Now Facing US Charges
The armed assault on two presidential residences in May 2024 in the capital of Kinshasa, located in the central African nation, resulted in six fatalities.
A fourth American, Joseph Peter Moesser, 67, was apprehended in Utah and faces similar accusations.
“As stated in the allegations, the defendants plotted to unlawfully execute a coup d’état in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The co-conspirators orchestrated an armed military maneuver (Armed Coup Attack) targeting DRC President Félix Tshisekedi and Deputy Prime Minister for the Economy Vital Kamerhe (Kamerhe), launching attacks on both the Palais de la Nation (the presidential residence and main office) and Kamerhe’s private home in Kinshasa, DRC,” the DOJ reported.
In May 2024, armed individuals dressed in camouflage, including U.S. citizens, broke into the buildings in Kinshasa, resulting in at least six deaths, which included two police officers and a civilian.
The alleged mastermind of the operation was Christian Malanga, a Congolese political activist based in the U.S. who perished during the attack. His son, Marcel Malanga, is accused of referring to himself as the “Chief of Staff of the Zaire army.” The group intended to rename the nation New Zaire.
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Moesser allegedly provided the group with explosives, designed bombs that could be deployed by drones, and flamethrowers intended for drone attachment.
Thompson is reported to have operated drones and engaged in combat. Prosecutors allege that the group intended to deploy drones to unleash bombs and incendiary devices, including flamethrowers, against individuals and structures, forming the basis for the weapons of mass destruction charges.
They are also accused of acquiring firearms and participating in training sessions in the United States—specifically at shooting ranges in Salt Lake City, Utah—and in Africa.
Federal prosecutors claim that part of the plan was conceived and funded from the United States, which establishes their jurisdiction under anti-terrorism laws.
These three Americans were included among 37 individuals sentenced to death by a DRC military court in September 2024. Their transfer followed extensive diplomatic negotiations between U.S. and Congolese officials, which included a visit to Kinshasa by Massad Boulos, senior Africa adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump.
The DRC government reportedly commuted their sentences and transferred them to U.S. custody last week, allowing them to serve their sentences on American soil.
The negotiations occur amid wider U.S.—Congo discussions about a minerals-for-security agreement, as Washington seeks enhanced access to Congo’s cobalt reserves and other materials essential for battery and electronics manufacturing.
If found guilty, the defendants could face life imprisonment for the most severe charges.
Reuters contributed to this report.
