US and British citizens among 37 sentenced to death in DR Congo coup trial

Thirty-seven individuals, including several foreign nationals, have been sentenced to death in the Democratic Republic of Congo for their involvement in an attempted coup in May, targeting President Félix Tshisekedi.

Among those sentenced were three Americans, a Briton, a Belgian, and a Canadian national, most of Congolese origin.

The coup's suspected leader, Christian Malanga, a US national of Congolese descent, was killed in the attack along with five others.

Of the 51 people tried, 14 were acquitted.

Those convicted have five days to appeal their sentences.

While the DR Congo has not carried out death sentences in two decades, a recent government decision lifted the moratorium in March, citing the need to address "traitors" in the country's military.

However, no executions have taken place since the moratorium was lifted. The trial was broadcast on national media.