AFRICA – CHINA: Blanket Upgrades

The alleged plot was led by Christian Malanga, a Congolese man who was a "naturalised American" and who was killed by security forces, army spokesman General Sylvain Ekenge has said.The three Americans on trial include Malanga's son Marcel Malanga.The two other Americans being tried were 22-year-old Tyler Thompson and Benjamin Zalman-Polun, 36.The proceedings have shed little light on the motivations behind the May 19th events, for which the defendants placed the blame on Christian Malanga.Thompson told the court he had been "forced" into participating, as did the two other US citizens.In March, the Congolese government defied criticism from human rights organisations and lifted a moratorium on the death penalty in place since 2003.Lawyers for the Americans have complained that their clients were interrogated in French, without an interpreter, despite being English speakers.( AFP 27/8, 13/9 2024) Continuing coup trial p. 24545A Cooperation Agreement: DR Congo authorities have signed a military cooperation agreement with China to address the country's security challenges, the privatelyowned Politico.cdreported on September 6th