Three Americans accused of involvement in last month's attempted coup in the Democratic Republic of Congo appeared before a military tribunal in Kinshasa.
On the first day of the trial, the three appeared before the judge along with dozens of other defendants, seated in plastic chairs.
An attempted coup last month led by little-known opposition leader Christian Malanga targeted the presidential palace and President Felix Tshisekedi's inner circle, leaving six people dead.
The Congolese army said Malanga was shot dead moments after livestreaming the attack for resisting arrest.
Benjamin Reuben Zalman Porn also appeared in court. (AP)
The court said there were 53 names on the list but that of Christian Malanga and one other person were removed after the death certificates were submitted.
Two other Americans are also on trial for their alleged involvement in the attack, along with Malanga's 21-year-old son, Marcel Malanga, a US citizen. All three requested a French-to-English translator.
Tyler Thompson Jr., 21, flew to Africa with Marcel for what the family thought was a vacation, all expenses paid for by Malanga.
Dozens appear in court (AP)
Thompson appeared before a field court on Friday with a shaved head and scarred skin.
The family maintains that their sons were unaware of Malanga's intentions, had no plans for political activity and had no plans to enter Congo. His mother-in-law, Miranda Thompson, said the boys had only planned to travel to South Africa and Eswatini.
Benjamin Reuben Zalman Polun, 36, is the third American to stand trial.
Zalman Porn, who pleaded guilty to marijuana trafficking in 2015, reportedly met Christian Malanga through a gold mining company he set up in Mozambique in 2022, according to the Official Gazette published by the Mozambican government and a report in the Africa Intelligence Newsletter.
