Current Events > 21 year old boy from Utah attempts a coup in the Congo

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[deleted]
05/25/24 8:02:16 AM
#20:


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[deleted]
05/25/24 8:02:16 AM
#21:


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Simon_Gruber
05/25/24 8:53:17 AM
#1:


The family of an American caught up in a failed coup attempt in Congo said their son was in Africa on vacation with family friends and had not previously engaged in political activism, according to a statement provided to The Associated Press.
Tyler Thompson, 21, was one of at least three Americans who were named by the Congolese army as being part of a failed effort to overthrow the government in Kinshasa in the early hours Sunday under eccentric, self-exiled leader Christian Malanga. The two other Americans allegedly involved were Benjamin Reuben Zalman-Polun, and Malangas Utah-born son, Marcel, 21, who was arrested by Congolese forces.
We are stunned and heartbroken by the videos we have seen from the coup attempt, Thompsons stepmother, Miranda Thompson, said in a direct message on the social media platform X. We have no idea how he got wrapped up in this situation, which is completely out of character for him. We are certain he did not go to Africa with plans for political activism.
Malanga, the alleged leader, was shot dead after resisting arrest, the Congolese army said. In all, six people were killed in the attack on the presidential palace and another on the residence of a close ally of President Felix Tshisekedi.
Although the Congolese government has not clarified whether Thompson was among those arrested or killed, a video circulating on social media shows him surrounded by Congolese soldiers with his hands clasped tightly and a frightened look on his bloodied face. He and Marcel Malanga are forced to their feet and soldiers tie their hands behind their backs.
Thompson had played high school football with Marcel Malanga in the Salt Lake City suburb of West Jordan and was the only former teammate to accept his invitation to travel to Congo, according to several other players who told the AP they had been invited.
Marcel Malanga had pitched the trip to many of his high school friends in the months leading up to the foiled coup attempt. Some said he had invited them on a family vacation, while others, including former football teammate Jaden Lalor, said he had pitched it as a service trip to build wells. Teammates recounted Marcel Malangas increasing desperation as friend after friend declined.
He did call me to ask if I wanted to go to Africa for vacation, as well as a few of my other friends, but he did not offer to take more than a single one of us at a time, said Luke Barbee, another former teammate who lived with Marcel Malanga last year. He only asked so many of us because he kept getting denied until Tyler said yes to the trip.
Barbee was shocked to learn of his friends involvement in the attack and said it seemed out of character for both young men.
Marcel Malanga had a strained relationship with his father, Lalor said, adding that he could have been easily pressured or manipulated into following his fathers plans.
Marcel is a super respectful kid, rough around the edges, but not enough to go and murder people, Lalor said. I know they had to have been brainwashed or forced to do this because Tyler had never been one for conflict. Hes one of the most laid back or chill kids you would meet.
Thompsons stepmother said he was not politically engaged and was simply excited to see the world with his friend.
He is a good kid, a hard worker and a respectful young man, Miranda Thompson said of her stepson. Were so lost as to how he ended up in this mess.
The U.S. State Department strongly discourages travel to Congo, warning of violent crime and civil unrest. Americans are specifically encouraged to avoid demonstrations that might result in arrest due to the U.S. governments extremely limited ability to provide emergency consular services to U.S. citizens in many parts of the country.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned the attack in a call with Tshisekedi on Wednesday and offered help from the U.S. with the investigation, according to a summary of the call.
The U.S. Embassy in Congo said Thursday that it was still waiting for the Congolese government to provide evidence that the arrested individuals were Americans before it could provide consular services to them.
The Congolese government has not given a date for when the suspects will appear in court.

https://apnews.com/article/congo-coup-failed-attack-american-9913014d6110cab9fc994770291cd10b
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LeoRavus
05/25/24 8:56:43 AM
#2:


Who goes on vacation to Africa and decides to overthrow the government.

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Takuya_Lee
05/25/24 9:02:41 AM
#3:


LeoRavus posted...
Who goes on vacation to Africa and decides to overthrow the government.

Someone who's very bored

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UnholyMudcrab
05/25/24 9:04:32 AM
#4:


Ooh, now that's a classic. Some Simon Mann and Mad Mike Hoare type shit.

Except it's even dumber than that, because those guys were at least combat veterans.

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ZevLoveDOOM
05/25/24 9:08:04 AM
#5:


LeoRavus posted...
Who goes on vacation to Africa and decides to overthrow the government.

that sounds like the plot for a Far Cry game...
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KainWind
05/25/24 9:09:31 AM
#6:


Imagine if they succeeded though

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Momentai
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ooger
05/25/24 9:11:24 AM
#7:


What an interesting new take on the "Nigerian Prince Scam".

"Please come to the congo to help overthrow the Government. Riches await!"

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hmnut7
05/25/24 9:12:58 AM
#8:


Dave: Hey Bob how's your son, what's Tyler been up too?
Bob: Oh you know the usually, he and his friends went to Africa and tried to overthrow a government and are being detained by the Congolese army. Typical kids stuff.


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xsdarknesssx
05/25/24 9:25:37 AM
#9:


LeoRavus posted...
Who goes on vacation to Africa and decides to overthrow the government.

Looks to me like the one Father from Congo and maybe his son planned this and wanted to rope in a few of the Son's American friends for some reason, maybe they felt they had more protection with them around or wanted to use them as leverage with someone. Hopefully the Government can do something about it, because there is no way in hell he is going to get an kind of fair trial in that part of the world.
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Baha05
05/25/24 9:25:46 AM
#10:


https://youtu.be/8fbGbPwKbQA?si=egfW1mjFbnyYD2XH

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The_Popo
05/25/24 9:28:17 AM
#11:


LeoRavus posted...
Who goes on vacation to Africa and decides to overthrow the government.

Thats what happens when the hotel has shitty WiFi

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Music_Rock_Cat
05/25/24 9:32:42 AM
#12:


oh my dear lord.....

You need a hell of a sizeable military and arms with you to pull coups off in Africa. Burkina Faso if you tried that you'll get toasted by Russian Troops that are stationed in the country of BF.

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HBKick18
05/25/24 9:37:10 AM
#13:


xsdarknesssx posted...
Hopefully the Government can do something about it, because there is no way in hell he is going to get an kind of fair trial in that part of the world.
maybe don't try to overthrow a foreign government?

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Baha05
05/25/24 9:38:45 AM
#14:


HBKick18 posted...
maybe don't try to overthrow a foreign government?
Also this like there is a difference between being a foreigner and detained for like nothing, like not even breaking any of that countrys laws. The moment you try to overthrow a government all bets are off.

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Hejiru
05/25/24 9:39:18 AM
#15:


LeoRavus posted...
Who goes on vacation to Africa and decides to overthrow the government.

Caaaarl, were supposed to be on vacation

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YugiNoob
05/25/24 9:48:30 AM
#16:


He is a good kid

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/f/f70671f3.jpg

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#17
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SpawnShadow
05/25/24 10:05:57 AM
#18:


If he wanted to take part in a right-wing coup, he could have just stayed home and joined the Trump campaign.
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Foppe
05/25/24 10:11:34 AM
#19:


ooger posted...
What an interesting new take on the "Nigerian Prince Scam".

"Please come to the congo to help overthrow the Government. Riches await!"
I met this wonderful girl online!
She looks great and she loves me, but she is stuck in Congo.
Ive sent her over $150.000 so she can get some legal documents so she can get here, but that corrupt Government takes all the money and demands more!
It is probably cheaper to do a coup...

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Diceheist
05/25/24 10:23:12 AM
#22:


Apparently the guy who planned it was a notable politician there:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Malanga

And the coup attempt ended up with 6 people dead:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_Democratic_Republic_of_the_Congo_coup_attempt

Marcel was probably pressured into inviting someone and Tyler might've been completely tricked into going thinking it was some type of vacation. But unfortunately due to level of political significance of this event they're likely completely screwed.

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Thermador446
05/25/24 10:24:49 AM
#23:


I mean, whatever it takes to get the fuck outta Utah.


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#24
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#25
Post #25 was unavailable or deleted.
Diceheist
05/25/24 10:41:02 AM
#26:


Damn, looking at videos of this the reason the one guy's face was bloody was because an officer randomly smacked him with a rifle after he was already detained. Guess police brutality is fair game there. >_>

SpawnShadow posted...
If he wanted to take part in a right-wing coup, he could have just stayed home and joined the Trump campaign.

Judging from his social media Marcel is a Trump supporter. So yeah he didn't even have to go to the Congo lol.

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Tropicalwood
05/25/24 10:43:46 AM
#27:


LeoRavus posted...
Who goes on vacation to Africa and decides to overthrow the government.
Frank Amodeo

First the Congo, then the world.

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modena
05/25/24 11:23:12 AM
#28:


Tag for later....what the hell lol.

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rexcrk
05/25/24 11:23:56 AM
#29:


21 year old boy from Utah attempts a coup in the Congo

Lemme guess kid follows Andrew Tate.

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Solar_Crimson
05/25/24 11:27:40 AM
#30:


LeoRavus posted...
Who goes on vacation to Africa and decides to overthrow the government.
Sounds like he was tricked by his old HS friend, who in turn was manipulated by his Congolese-born estranged father.

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Dungeater
05/25/24 11:29:44 AM
#31:


LeoRavus posted...
Who goes on vacation to Africa and decides to overthrow the government.
far cry games be like

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KiwiTerraRizing
05/25/24 11:32:03 AM
#32:


LeoRavus posted...
Who goes on vacation to Africa and decides to overthrow the government.

Theres a belief on the right that white people can easily conquer destabilized areas of Africa due to believed superiority.

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Unsuprised_Pika
05/25/24 12:58:36 PM
#33:


hmnut7 posted...
Dave: Hey Bob how's your son, what's Tyler been up too?
Bob: Oh you know the usually, he and his friends went to Africa and tried to overthrow a government and are being detained by the Congolese army. Typical kids stuff.

For MAGAs it practically is tbh.

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ClayGuida
05/25/24 1:03:08 PM
#34:


What a plot to a movie, instead of a Midsommar festival it's a coup.

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Sephiroth_C_Ryu
05/25/24 1:03:22 PM
#35:


ZevLoveDOOM posted...
that sounds like the plot for a Far Cry game...

Or a Just Cause game.

He would totally go on a vacation somewhere only to get roped into grapple-paragliding around the whole place causing chaos.


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ROB45
05/25/24 1:23:21 PM
#36:


Are we talking the Democratic Republic of Congo or the Republic of Congo?
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KainWind
05/26/24 8:38:17 AM
#37:


ROB45 posted...
Are we talking the Democratic Republic of Congo or the Republic of Congo?

It says Kinshasa so I assume DRC

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Momentai
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BlueKat
05/26/24 8:49:26 AM
#38:


( -_-)

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