#congolese army

[tearsofrefugees]

Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo

Women gather on a hill in the Rusayo camp, home to tens of thousands of war-displaced people, on the outskirts of Goma. Since mid-2022, hundreds of thousands of Congolese have found refuge around Goma after fleeing fighting further north between the Congolese army and the Rwandan-backed M23 rebellion. Every month, more than 2,000 women are treated in camps around the city by Doctors Without Borders after being sexually assaulted, mostly by ‘armed men’ while trying to find food in the surrounding forests and fields.

Photograph: Alexis Huguet/AFP/Getty Images

[arinzeture]

The Unyielding Spirit of Pan-Africanism: Lumumba, Sankara, Gaddafi, and Nkrumah Live On

Juba Global News Network, May 27, 2025

Patrice Lumumba, Thomas Sankara, Muammar Gaddafi, and Kwame Nkrumah—four towering figures of Pan-Africanism whose lives were cut short by violence and betrayal, yet whose dreams of a united, self-reliant Africa endure. Though imperialist forces and their collaborators silenced their voices, they could not extinguish the soul of their vision: a continent free from neocolonial exploitation, united in purpose, and empowered to shape its own destiny. Their legacies continue to inspire Africans and the diaspora, a testament to the resilience of their Pan-African ideals.

Patrice Lumumba, the first Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo, was assassinated on January 17, 1961, at the age of 35, barely seven months after leading his nation to independence from Belgium. Lumumba’s vision of a sovereign Congo, free from Western exploitation of its vast mineral wealth, made him a target. His fiery speeches, calling for African unity and economic independence, alarmed colonial powers and their local allies. The CIA and Belgian authorities, fearing his influence, orchestrated his murder, with complicity from Congolese rivals. Lumumba’s body was dismembered and dissolved in acid, a brutal attempt to erase his legacy. Yet, “They killed Lumumba’s body, but his soul fuels Congo’s fight for true freedom.” His dream of a united Africa, unbowed by imperialism, continues to inspire activists demanding justice for Congo’s plundered resources.

Thomas Sankara, Burkina Faso’s “Che Guevara of Africa,” was gunned down on October 15, 1987, at 37, betrayed by his comrade Blaise Compaoré in a coup backed by France. As president from 1983 to 1987, Sankara transformed Burkina Faso through self-reliance, rejecting foreign aid, promoting local production, and empowering women. His Pan-Africanist vision rejected neocolonialism, famously declaring, “He who feeds you, controls you.” Sankara’s policies, including land reform and anti-corruption measures, threatened Western interests and local elites. His assassination, orchestrated with foreign complicity, aimed to bury his ideals. Yet, as a recent X post notes, “Sankara’s spirit lives in every African youth fighting for dignity.” His call for African unity and economic sovereignty resonates in movements across the continent.

Muammar Gaddafi, Libya’s leader from 1969 until his brutal killing on October 20, 2011, was a polarizing yet pivotal Pan-Africanist. Gaddafi envisioned a United States of Africa, advocating for a single currency, army, and government to counter Western dominance. He funded the African Union and supported liberation movements, earning both admiration and enmity. NATO’s 2011 intervention, backed by the U.S. and France, led to his lynching by rebels, a spectacle meant to crush his vision. Libya’s descent into chaos followed, exposing Western motives tied to oil and geopolitical control. “Gaddafi’s dream of African unity was his death sentence, but his ideas still haunt the imperialists.” His push for African self-reliance continues to inspire those resisting foreign interference.

Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first president and a founding father of Pan-Africanism, was overthrown in a CIA-backed coup in 1966 and died in exile in 1972 at 62. Nkrumah’s vision of a united Africa, articulated in his book Africa Must Unite, laid the groundwork for the Organization of African Unity (now the African Union). He championed industrialization and economic independence, challenging Western exploitation. His ousting, supported by local elites and foreign powers, aimed to silence his call for continental solidarity. “Nkrumah’s soul lives in every African dreaming of unity.” His ideas continue to shape discussions on African integration and sovereignty.

Lumumba, Sankara, Gaddafi, and Nkrumah were targeted because their visions threatened the neocolonial order. Their killers—colonial powers, their proxies, and complicit African elites—sought to erase their influence, but the soul of Pan-Africanism endures. These leaders’ dreams of a united, self-sufficient Africa, free from exploitation, resonate in today’s struggles against foreign interference, from the CFA franc to resource plundering. Across social media, their names are invoked as rallying cries: “They killed your body, but your ideas are immortal.” Movements in Burkina Faso, Mali, and beyond, rejecting neocolonialism, echo their legacies, proving that while bodies can be destroyed, the spirit of Pan-Africanism remains indomitable.

Patrice Lumumba, Thomas Sankara, Muammar Gaddafi, and Kwame Nkrumah were murdered to suppress their vision of a united, liberated Africa. Yet, their ideas—rooted in sovereignty, unity, and resistance to exploitation—continue to inspire a new generation. From Congo’s fight for resource control to Burkina Faso’s push for self-reliance, their dreams live on, untouchable by those who sought to kill them. As Africa navigates modern challenges, the soul of these Pan-African giants remains a guiding light, urging the continent toward true independence.

[zvaigzdelasas]

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has extended an offer to the US, proposing exclusive access to its critical minerals and infrastructure projects, reported Bloomberg.

In return, the DRC is seeking security assistance to combat a rebellion that is allegedly supported by Rwanda.

In a direct appeal, Congo has requested an urgent meeting between President Felix Tshisekedi and US President Donald Trump.

The proposed pact is expected to grant US companies privileged access to minerals essential for the global energy transition.

The request, conveyed in a letter to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, underscores the DRC’s pressing need for support as it contends with internal conflict.

Congo’s mining sector, a significant source of copper, is currently dominated by Chinese companies.

A partnership with the US will enable Congo to diversify its economic alliances and reduce China’s influence.

The proposal includes operational control for US companies, “exclusive” extraction and export rights, participation in a deep-water port project and the creation of a joint strategic mineral stockpile.

In exchange for these economic opportunities, the US would provide military training, equipment, and direct security assistance including access to military bases to protect strategic resources.

The French investigative outlet Africa Intelligence reported that DRC President Félix Tshisekedi dispatched figures within his inner circle and mining industry officials to the United States and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to discuss strategic mineral partnership agreements in exchange for bilateral military assistance in late February.[1] Africa Intelligence reported that the DRC floated an arrangement with the UAE for a copper and cobalt mining site in the Lualaba province in the southeastern DRC’s Katanga region, but China currently dominates mining in this region and additional details of the proposal remain undisclosed.[2] Tshisekedi had publicly offered the United States and the European Union (EU) “a stake in his country’s vast mineral wealth” and said that the Trump administration could benefit from “a stream of strategic minerals from Congo” in an interview with The New York Times on February 22.[3][...]

The DRC’s proposal mirrors the US-Ukraine critical minerals deal that trades access and investment in Ukraine’s mineral industry for potential US security guarantees.[6] The French magazine Jeune Afrique quoted a “senior American diplomat” who speculated that Tshisekedi drew inspiration for the deal after seeing US interest in Ukrainian minerals.[7] The DRC’s proposal for the Banana port resembles a prior DRC-UAE agreement in 2021, when the UAE-based logistics company DP World acquired 70 percent ownership of the Banana port in exchange for a $1 billion investment in the DRC and the delivery of 30 armored vehicles for the Congolese army.[8]

5 Mar 25

[vague-humanoid]

DR Congo Protests Throw a Wrench in the Western-Backed War of Pillage

On The Freedom Side LIVE, Thursday, 1/30  at 3pm ET/12pm PT, hosts Rania Khalek and Eugene Puryear are joined by special guests:

Kambale Musavuli from the Center for Research on the Congo joins the show to discuss the rapidly escalating conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo as fighting between the Rwandan backed-M23 rebel group and the Congolese army (FARDC) intensifies in the major city of Goma. Musavuli will discuss the latest updates as well the protests that erupted across the country at US & EU embassies over the West’s complicity in the brutal proxy war for the DR Congo’s vast mineral wealth.

Abubaker Abed, Palestinian journalist and commentator in Gaza, joins the show to discuss Palestinians’ historic return to their devastated homes in the northern Gaza Strip on Monday after over a year of genocidal war. Reporting firsthand, Abed will explain how this historic mass return marks a powerful act of Palestinian resistance and is seen as a significant step toward reclaiming all occupied territories.

Vijay Prashad, Executive Director of the Tricontinental Institute, joins the show to unpack a critical question: As Donald Trump’s return to the White House emboldens far-right movements across the North Atlantic, do these forces actually challenge neoliberalism—or are they merely its latest iteration? Prashad will argue that the far right, despite its populist rhetoric, remains tied to the neoliberal economic and security policies they claim to oppose.

Hala Jaber Leb, award-winning Beirut-based journalist, joins the show to discuss Israel's violation of its ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah. Israel continues to bomb southern Lebanon and refuses to withdraw their forces despite the 60-day ceasefire deadline. Thousands of Lebanese residents have been returning to their homes in the South in defiance of Israel’s occupation.

Doug Henwood, economic journalist and host of the podcast Behind the News, joins the show to discuss how Trump has stacked his administration with crypto entrepreneurs, launched his second cryptocurrency, and pledged to make the US the “crypto capital of the planet.” Henwood will explain the danger of Trump’s actions and the increasing threat of expanded US government involvement in crypto, an industry rife with risks and scams.

Zoe Alexandra, Editor of Peoples Dispatch, joins the show to discuss how Colombian President Gustavo Petro stood up to Trump over the inhumane treatment of Colombian migrants deported from the US. Alexandra will explain the tense diplomatic impasse between Washington and Bogotá and discuss how progressive governments in Latin America are fighting for the respect and dignity of migrants amid the Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign.

[sayruq]

A rebel group with alleged links to Rwanda this week seized Rubaya, a mining town in eastern Congo known for producing a key mineral used in smartphones, the group said Thursday in a statement. In a statement shared with The Associated Press, a spokesperson for the M23 rebel group said the town was “liberated.” The Congolese army declined to comment on the situation. The decades long conflict in eastern Congo has produced one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with over 100 armed groups fighting for control of the mineral-rich area near the border with Rwanda. Many groups are accused of carrying out mass killings, rapes and other human rights violations. The violence has displaced about 7 million people, many beyond the reach of aid. The town of Rubaya holds deposits of tantalum, which is extracted from coltan, a key component in the production of smartphones. It is among the minerals that was named earlier this month in a letter from Congo’s government questioning Apple about the tech company’s knowledge of “blood minerals” being smuggled in its supply chain. “The fall of Rubaya is in a way the embodiment of this systemic plundering,” Ernest Singoma, a civil society activist in Goma, told the AP on Thursday. There’s been an upsurge in fighting in recent months between M23 rebels and Congo army forces, and it comes as the United Nations plans to withdraw peacekeepers from the region by the end of the year.

[fiercynn]

black & palestinian solidarities

if you support black liberation but are unsure of your stance on palestinian resistance, here’s a reminder that they are deeply intertwined. after the 1917 balfour declaration by the british government announcing the first support for a zionist state in palestine,  zionism and israeli occupation of palestine have followed similar ideologies and practices to white supremacist settler colonial projects, so solidarity between black and palestinian communities has grown over time, seeing each other as fellow anti-imperialist and anti-racist struggles. (if you get a paywall for any of the sources below, try searching them in google scholar.)

palestinians have been inspired by and shown support for black liberationist struggles as early as the 1930s, when arabic-language newspapers in palestine wrote about the struggle by black folks in the united states and framed it as anti-colonial, as well as opposing the 1935 invasion by fascist italy of ethiopia, the only independent black african state at the time. palestinian support for black struggles grew in the 1960s with the emergence of newly-independent african states, the development of black and third world internationalisms, and the civil rights movement in the united states. palestinian writers have expressed this solidarity too: palestinian activist samih al-qasim showed his admiration for congolese independence leader patrice lumumba in a poem about him, while palestinian poet mahmoud darwish’s “letters to a negro” essays spoke directly to black folks in the united states about shared struggles.

afro-palestinians have a rich history of freedom fighting against israeli apartheid, where they face oppression at the intersections of their black and palestinian identities. some families trace their roots back hundreds of years, while others came to jerusalem in the nineteenth century from chad, sudan, nigeria, and senegal after performing the hajj (the islamic pilgrimage to mecca) and settled down. still others came to palestine in the 1940s specifically to join the arab liberation army, where they fought against israel’s ethnic cleansing of palestinians during the 1948 nakba (“catastrophe”). afro-palestinian freedom fighter fatima bernawi, who was of nigerian, palestinian, and jordanian descent, became, in 1967, the first palestinian woman to be organize an operation against israel, and subsequently the first palestinian woman to be imprisoned by israel. the history of afro-palestinian resistance continues today: even as the small afro-palestinian community in jerusalem is highly-surveilled, over-policed, disproportionately incarcerated, and subjected to racist violence, they continue to organize and fight for palestinian liberation.

black revolutionaries and leaders in the united states have supported the palestinian struggle for decades, with a ramp-up since the 1960s. malcolm x became a huge opponent of zionism after traveling to southwest asia and north africa (SWANA), publishing “zionist logic” in 1964, and becoming one of the first black leaders from the united states to meet with the newly formed palestine liberation organization. the black panther party and the third world women’s alliance, a revolutionary socialist organization for women of color, also supported palestinian resistance in the 1970s. writers like maya angelou, june jordan, and james baldwin have long spoken out for palestinians. dr. angela davis (who received support from palestinian political prisoners when she was incarcerated) has made black and palestinian solidarity a key piece of her work. and many, many more black leaders and revolutionaries in the united states have supported palestinian freedom.

while israel has long courted relationships with the african union and its members, there has been ongoing tension between them since at least the 1970s, when all but four african states (malawi, lesotho, swaziland, and mauritius) cut off diplomatic ties with israel after the 1973 october war. while many of those diplomatic relationships were reestablished in subsequent decades, they remain rocky, and earlier this year, the african union booted an israeli diplomat from their annual summit in addis ababa, ethiopia, and issued a draft declaration on the situation in palestine and the middle east that expressed “full support for the palestinian people in their legitimate struggle against the israeli occupation”, naming israeli settlements as illegal and calling for boycotts and sanctions with israel. grassroots organizations like africa 4 palestine have also been key in the BDS (boycott, divestment, sanctions) movement.

in south africa, comparisons between israel and south african apartheid have been prevalent since the 1990s and early 2000s. israel historically allied with apartheid-era south africa, while palestinians opposed south african apartheid, leading nelson mandela to support the palestinian liberation organization as "fighting for the right of self-determination"; over the years his statements have been joined by fellow black african freedom fighters like nozizwe madlala-routledge and desmond tutu. post-apartheid south africa has continued to be a strong ally to palestine, calling for israel to be declared “apartheid state”.

black and palestinian solidarities have continued into the 21st century. palestinian people raised money to send to survivors of hurricane katrina in the united states in 2005 (which disproportionately harmed black communities in new orleans and the gulf of mexico) and the devastating earthquake in haiti in 2010. in the past decade, the global black lives matter struggle has brought new emphasis to shared struggles. prison and police abolitionists have long noted the deadly exchange which brings together police, ICE, border patrol, and FBI agents from the united states to train with soldiers, police, and border agents from israel. palestinian freedom fighters supported the 2014 uprising in ferguson in the united states, and shared strategies for resisting state violence. over a thousand black leaders signed onto the 2015 black solidarity statement with palestine. the murder of george floyd by american cops in 2020 has sparked further allyship, including black lives matter protests in palestine, with organizations like the dream defenders making connections between palestinian and black activists.

this is just a short summary that i came up because i've been researching black and asian solidarities recently so i had some sources on hand; there's obviously so much more that i haven't covered, so please feel free to reblog with further additions to this history!

[eretzyisrael]

by Peter Baum

Since the third but most  recent creation of the Jewish State of Israel in 1948 and the various conflicts she has faced since, the total number of deaths including those since October 7, has been no more than 200,000 inclusive of both sides and of various nationalities – Lebanese, Egyptian, Syrian , Jordanian , Israelis and Arab Palestinians. Averaging circa 2500 deaths per annum with a heavily swayed death total to the Arab Palestinian population.

Statistics only being identified by the Hamas Authorities state over 40,000 Arab Palestinians killed but this must include Hamas operatives, estimated to be nearly 20,000 perhaps more. If one compares this to the deaths of civilians during a similar period in Nigeria, Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Mali, Somalia, Yemen, Syria, Pakistan, Iraq, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Mexico and Columbia then by equivalent statistical data these conflicts were also genocides – but not according to mainstream media, political commentators or the United Nations. Only the Palestinians apparently are victims of genocide. The only contemporary wearers of the Crown of Genocide.

So, let’s revert to the DRC and attempt to make sense of global conflicts, their victims and the role of our media and political leaders. By any intelligent research it is a truth that in less than thirty years over six million indigenous, black, African Congolese have been killed in internal conflict sometimes extending to the countries directly bordering the DRC. It is also an undeniable fact that a multiple of three to four times that number killed have been displaced from their homelands. Given the lack of knowledge about the country itself I would wager there is even less knowledge relating to the armed militias, groups or interested parties participating in this human tragedy. In all truth who of you have heard or read about the FARDC (Congolese Army) or the M23 rebel militia?

How can it possibly be in this day and age that six million black Africans can be slaughtered, and mainstream media totally ignores these tragedies. It is not only in the DRC a true genocide occurred. In Rwanda in 1994 nearly one million black Africans were butchered. And if I asked who butchered who, I would wager the majority don’t know the answer. Apart from a lack of knowledge of the two tribal protagonists, Hutus and Tutsis, I would wager that very few know who the perpetrators were and who were the victims. I’m not telling – dyor as we scribe lazily use such terminology.

So, two true genocides in Africa go unreported by our mainstream media. The six hundred thousand killed in Syria or the 250,000 deaths in Yemen have also gone similarly unnoticed. In Sudan, Eritrea and Libya the total death toll in the last five years is one million plus. But again, no media coverage.

And with lack of reporting there will be no protests, no outrage, no boycotts, no attacks on ordinary folk by activists, no UN sanctions, no political management.

So, four genocides occur but no outrage and a non-genocide receives global attention and political activism often bordering on criminality leading to the deaths of innocents. How can this be? I will tell you.

The global order which includes the Theatre of the Absurd – the United Nations, together with global mainstream media and an ever-increasing Muslim population with numerous countries subservient to that religion have adopted a truly successful agenda. Within that agenda money paid to corrupt African politicians has played a crucial role and has garnered support from the political left who are rabid anti-Semites and thus the saturation negative reporting on Israel as the aggressor and the Palestinian as victims. The fact that the Palestinians adhere to Charters demanding Jew extermination has been for decades conveniently ignored.

Atrocities in Africa are purposely overlooked and total concentration is beamed on Israel a state no bigger than New Jersey in the USA. Disproportionate, saturation negative reporting on Israel by mainstream media take total precedence above all other global conflicts.

[humanrightsupdates]

DR Congo: Rwanda-backed M23 Executed Civilians in Goma

Mass Killings in February Highlight Grave Risks to People in Occupied Areas

(Nairobi) – The Rwanda-backed M23 armed group summarily executed at least 21 civilians and most likely many more in Goma, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, on February 22-23, 2025, Human Rights Watch said today.

The M23 has occupied Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, since January 27, 2025. Witnesses said that on the afternoon of February 22, at least three pickup trucks carrying dozens of M23 fighters arrived at various parts of Goma’s Kasika neighborhood. They executed seven people west of Katindo military camp, a former Congolese army barracks. The bodies of 11 more people, including a boy, were found at a construction site near the camp. On February 23, the fighters rounded up people, including to forcibly recruit them, and killed three men as they tried to escape.

“The M23’s brutal control over Goma has created a climate of fear among those perceived to be allied to the Congolese government,,” said Clémentine de Montjoye, senior Great Lakes researcher at Human Rights Watch. “The mass killings don’t seem to be actions by rogue fighters, but rather the M23 leadership’s efforts to solidify their control by whatever means necessary.”

The absence of reports of fighting between the warring parties and the nature of the wounds indicate that M23 fighters deliberately executed those in their custody, which are war crimes, Human Rights Watch said.

[thoughtlessarse]

Burundi has "accelerated" the withdrawal of some troops from DR Congo, a senior military source told AFP Thursday, as the UN warned the small Great Lakes nation was seeing its biggest influx of refugees from its conflict-riven neighbour in 25 years. Rwandan-backed M23 fighters have made big gains in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, seizing the cities of Goma and Bukavu, prompting warnings to the UN Security Council and stoking fears of a regional conflagration. The United Nations warned on Wednesday that the M23 "continues to advance towards other strategic areas" in the eastern Congolese provinces of North and South Kivu. "Since yesterday, the army has accelerated the extraction of our soldiers deployed on the Rusizi plain in the DRC," a senior army officer told AFP on Thursday, speaking on condition of anonymity. The officer did not specify how many troops were being withdrawn, but did note that one battalion had been sent to "secure the withdrawal of our soldiers" from an area in South Kivu. Since October 2023, Burundi has sent more than 10,000 soldiers to help the Congolese army against the M23 and other armed groups. However, the officer said the soldiers in the DRC were now facing "serious" re-supply issues, blaming the "disorganised" Congolese forces. Burundian soldiers were "at a total loss", he said, adding: "they have no more ammunition, no more food and have to make do." Earlier in the week reports that some Burundian troops were staging a "tactical withdrawal" were denied by the army.

continue reading

[kemetic-dreams]

(5 clips) CIA gets busted today in the Congo while attempting to perform a coup d’etat against the Congolese government. The Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) armed forces repelled an attempted coup d’etat involving Congolese and foreign fighters on Sunday morning, a DRC army spokesperson said in a televised address..The army announces the arrest of American mercenaries.In the 2nd clip, you’ll notice Christian Malanga the DR Congo Coup Leader with the Zionist Jewish colonial/ occupation army in the occupied Palestinian territories. Christian Malanga was killed today in the unsuccessful coup attempt. The NY TIMES article we referenced here states that, only 4 days ago, the Biden administration was ready to lift sanctions on the Congo. Of course, they presumed this would coincide with a successful coup attempt. The connections between the genocide in Palestine and the genocide in the Congo are glaring (but these connections extend to many other parts of the world also). The passport photo pictured belongs to the CIA agent who was busted in the failed coup attempt. May Allah give the oppressed success over their oppressors everywhere. Ameen.

[posttexasstressdisorder]

https://www.kron4.com/news/national/ap-us-news/ap-americans-convicted-in-congo-of-a-botched-coup-attempt-now-face-us-charges/

AP U.S. News

Americans convicted in Congo of a botched coup attempt now face US charges

by: HANNAH SCHOENBAUM and ERIC TUCKER, Associated Press

Posted: Apr 9, 2025 / 03:33 PM PDT

Updated: Apr 9, 2025 / 03:38 PM PDT

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Three Americans repatriated to the United States from Congo this week have been charged with participating in an elaborate coup attempt aimed at overthrowing the African nation’s government last year, the U.S. Justice Department said Wednesday.

A fourth man alleged by prosecutors to be an expert in explosives was also charged with aiding the plot.

The criminal charges arise from the same set of allegations that led to three of the defendants being detained in Congo and receiving death sentences. The sentences were later commuted to punishments of life imprisonment before the men were ultimately transferred Tuesday into U.S. custody to face charges in an American court. Their repatriation came amid efforts by Congolese authorities to reach a minerals deal with the U.S. in exchange for security support to fight rebels in the country’s conflict-hit east.

A criminal complaint unsealed by prosecutors Wednesday follows a long-running FBI investigation and accuses the men of conspiring to provide weapons, explosives and other support to a rebel army that was formed to try to overthrow the government.

Among the three Americans is 22-year-old Marcel Malanga, son of opposition figure Christian Malanga, who led the coup attempt that targeted the presidential palace in Kinshasa. The elder Malanga livestreamed from the palace during the attempt and was later killed while resisting arrest, Congolese authorities said.

Prosecutors say the accused wanted to establish a new government

Prosecutors say the goal of the plot was to establish a new government known as New Zaire and install Christian Malanga as its president. The younger Malanga identified himself as the “Chief of Staff of the Zaire army” and acted as a leader of the rebel forces, court documents say.

Christian Malanga, who was born in the Congolese capital of Kinshasa, had described himself on his website as a refugee who settled in the U.S. with his family in the 1990s. The self-proclaimed leader of a shadow government in exile sold used cars and dabbled in gold mining before persuading his Utah-born son to join in the foiled coup. Christian Malanga was convicted in Utah of assault with a firearm in 2001 and had charges dismissed in several other criminal cases.

Marcel Malanga, Tyler Thompson Jr., 22, and Benjamin Zalman-Polun, 37, were returned to the U.S. Tuesday. They are expected to make their first court appearance in Brooklyn.

The alleged explosives expert, Joseph Peter Moesser, 67, is set to appear in court in Salt Lake City on Thursday. Prosecutors say that as part of the plot, he provided explosives training and instructions at his Utah home and contributed weapons.

Thompson’s attorney, Skye Lazaro, said Wednesday she did not yet have information to share. No attorneys were listed in court documents for the other three defendants.

The men are charged with crimes including conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction, conspiracy to bomb government facilities and conspiracy to kill or kidnap persons in a foreign country. Those charges, which taken together could result in lengthy prison sentences in the event of a conviction, could change if and when the defendants are indicted by a grand jury.

Justice Department: Coup attempt was the result of a months-in-the-making plot

The complaint provides the most detailed chronicle to date of the planned May 2024 overthrow of Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi. At least six people, including Christian Malanga, died when armed men in camouflage fatigues led an attack on the homes of the president and a deputy prime minister.

The charging document makes clear that the alleged coup was the result of a months-in-the-making plot rather than a haphazard idea, with the men accused of recruiting friends in the U.S., acquiring drones and military-style weapons and also participating in extensive firearms training. The men are also alleged to have hijacked a bus and raided a Congolese police station to obtain weapons for the deadly attack.

Malanga told a Congolese judge that his father threatened to kill him if he did not follow his orders.

“We’re about to go take out some terrorists,” Malanga is alleged to have told a friend he was recruiting to go to Africa. The friend is not named in the complaint.

Other friends told The Associated Press that Malanga had offered up to $100,000 to join him on a mysterious “security job” in Congo.

Prosecutors are seeking to keep all four men in jail as the case moves forward.

“The four defendants pose an extreme danger to the community and present an unmanageable risk of flight,” the Justice Department said in a detention memo.

It notes that Moesser, a longtime associate of Christian Malanga, faced allegations of criminal conduct years earlier when he was accused of trying to place explosive black powder on an plane departing from the Salt Lake City airport. He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor and was sentenced to a form of probation.

Prosecutors say defendants include a drone specialist and bomb-making expert

Thompson, a friend and former high school football teammate of Marcel Malanga in Utah, is identified in court documents as a drone specialist who prosecutors say shopped for a flamethrower attachment that he planned to use to “light people on fire.”

His family has said he flew to Africa for what they believed was his first vacation abroad, paid for by Christian Malanga.

Witnesses observed Thompson and the younger Malanga conducting drone test flights and firing handguns and rifles at a shooting range near Salt Lake City before they left for Africa, according to the complaint.

Moesser allegedly helped Thompson and Malanga install the flamethrower attachment and showed them how to use drones to drop pipe bombs. Messages obtained by investigators show Moesser conspiring with Christian Malanga to ship explosives and AR-15 rifles to Congo, the complaint said.

Zalman-Polun reportedly traveled to Utah to help Malanga recruit soldiers for their rebel army. If the plot had been successful, Zalman-Polun would have become Christian Malanga’s chief of staff or would “work in finance” in the new administration, court documents say.

The complaint also places three of the defendants at the scene itself, using images and posts from the men’s social media accounts, including livestream videos that Christian Malanga recorded.

___

[thesilliestrovingalive]

Updated: May 8, 2024

Reworked Groups #5: Ikari Warriors

POTENTIAL TRIGGER WARNING: Viewer discretion is advised due to references to death.

Overview

A mysterious Japanese-German man known only as Heidern served as a high-ranking strategist for the esteemed Peregrine Falcons Squad. Heidern once enjoyed a peaceful yet militant life, living in the countryside with his wife. However, following the birth of his daughter, he contemplated retiring from the Peregrine Falcons Squad on good terms. However, tragedy struck when he lost his family. Consumed by grief and a desire for vengeance, he channelled his energy into founding the Ikari Warriors, an elite force determined to combat global injustices, crime, and terrorism.

With the backing of the Peregrine Falcons Squad's high command, Heidern implemented a rigorous military training program for his recruits. He went above and beyond to identify and refine each soldier's unique skills, recognizing that everyone approaches challenges differently.

After losing his sight in a surprise pirate attack during a Caribbean cruise, Heidern relinquished his leadership to General Kawasaki. Following Kawasaki's brutal murder at the hands of a Mexican cartel, Heidern urgently sought a new successor. With the help of his mercenaries, Heidern spent weeks searching until he finally rescued Leona, a young Czech girl, from an unnamed jungle village under siege by rogue militia forces. However, he soon discovered a dark truth: Leona had temporarily lost control of her esper abilities, resulting in the tragic death of her parents. The rogue militia, who were looking for her, intended to use her as a bioweapon.

Offering her a fresh start and a chance to fight against global injustices, Leona accepted, largely due to having no other options. Leona was trained by Heidern, Clark, Ralf, and other seasoned members of the Ikari Warriors, who oversaw her rigorous military training and moulded her into a skilled mercenary and capable leader. Although Heidern has passed on his leadership to Leona, he remains actively involved with the Ikari Warriors, focusing on training recruits and developing tactical strategies. Notably, he played a pivotal role in training any esper that was recruited, understanding their devastating potential if they fell into the wrong hands or were unable to control their power properly.

Following the Great Morden War, the Ikari Warriors joined the Regular Army to form its elite mercenary branch. As a private force for hire, they specialise in resolving extreme crises, while also undertaking smaller-scale missions. With a versatile rank structure, the Ikari Warriors can be contracted for a wide range of situations and danger levels.

Insignia

It features a lozenge-shaped silver-grey shield, outlined in shimmering luxor gold and trimmed with reseda chartreuse on the exterior. The shield's centre features the Japanese character “怒” (meaning “fury”) in alizarin red, painted in a bold, expressive style, with a horizontal bronze bullet below. A crimson-hilted silver dagger runs diagonally along its left side, while a bronze full moon is suspended above the shield. An ultramarine motto ribbon sits below the shield with the name of the special forces unit, Ikari Warriors, emblazoned in alizarin red.

Ikari Warriors Base

The Zorniger Mond Hideout is a rhomboid military complex situated deep within a Congolese jungle, its strategic location enhanced by a camouflage system expertly blending into the surroundings. The base's exterior is coated in a range of jungle green tones, including sulu, wild willow, asparagus, mineral green, and timber green. This stealthy design, combined with a state-of-the-art bulletproof system, provides the Ikari Warriors with a significant tactical advantage. They can launch surprise attacks on enemy forces without being detected.

The base boasts perimeter surveillance cameras and discreet, automated turret systems that detect and neutralise unauthorised personnel. They have a reinforced, electrified fence surrounding the base with strategically placed watchtowers featuring sniper positions. Additionally, they have a rooftop helicopter pad and four strategically positioned parabolic satellites, one at each corner of the base. The military complex comprises the following facilities:

A central command centre housing Heidern's and Leona's private quarters, a large strategy room with holographic display and tactical planning tools, communication arrays for secure global connectivity, and a situation room for real-time mission monitoring.

An intelligence room dedicated to gathering and analysing intel on potential missions and enemies, featuring computer systems for data analysis and cryptology, and secure storage for sensitive documents and classified information.

Simple, functional accommodations for mercenaries, including a barracks, mess hall, showers, a gym, a lounge, a game room, and personal storage lockers for gear and equipment.

An armoury with storage for weapons, ammunition, and explosives, and an adjacent repair workshop.

A fully equipped medical facility with an operating room for emergency surgeries, recovery ward, and medical supply storage.

A garage for storing and maintaining vehicles acquired through purchase, donation from the Regular Army or capture from enemies.

A commemorative wall honouring fallen comrades, alongside display cases showcasing the team's highest-achieving awards and medals.

A trophy room displaying captured enemy equipment and memorabilia with a secure storage room for valuable and sensitive seized assets.

A coliseum, cloaked in a muted blend of mossy green, olive drab, and earthy brown hues, is protected by a bullet-proof glass dome. By day, it's a training ground and hosts special tournaments. At night, the dome darkens to an inky black, and the interior shines a vibrant crimson under the moonlight.

Extra Information

Members of the Ikari Warriors are commonly known as "Soldiers of Fortune" or "Hired Ragers”, reflecting their reputation as elite mercenaries of the Regular Army and their fierce combat prowess.

Unlike other mercenary groups, the Ikari Warriors host biennial tournaments that are open to their members and anyone else interested in participating. These events serve as a platform to assess the physical prowess and mental strategies of both seasoned and new members, while also identifying potential recruits who may be interested in joining their ranks. The rules are straightforward:

1. No murder; violators will be charged with manslaughter.

2. No cheating; offenders may face a six-month suspension or be barred from participating in the next tournament, depending on the severity of the infraction.

3. Weapons are strictly prohibited.

4. Individuals who are currently ill or physically weak aren't permitted to participate as it may jeopardise their health.

5. Espers must not use their abilities when fighting against powerless humans.

6. Espers may use their abilities against other espers, but they must limit their power and aren't allowed to transform into their Super Devil form.

They’re the only branch in the Regular Army that doesn’t have dedicated soldiers wearing uniforms that identify them as part of the Ikari Warriors. To make things even more unusual, they have minimal interaction with members from other special forces units within the Regular Army, particularly the elite operatives, due to their singular focus on high-risk, large-scale and smaller-scale missions that typically fall outside the scope of the P.F. Squad, S.P.A.R.R.O.W.S., and Division 6.

Soldiers of Fortune, regardless of gender, receive double the average Canadian soldier's salary, acknowledging the high risks involved in their line of work. Heidern's policy ensures these elite mercenaries receive maximum financial support.

The handguns carried by Soldiers of Fortune are the Ultra Justitia Model-1977 .380 ACP or Justitia .380 ACP for short. This semi-automatic pistol is based on the Beretta Cheetah 80X, but features a distinctive grip that would later influence the design of the Walther PK380. Designed in 1977 to enhance the Beretta Cheetah's ergonomics, it offers a superior grip and hold, along with an increased ammo capacity of 15 rounds. It’s primarily used by private military companies, but it has also seen adoption by some Regular Army units.

[zvaigzdelasas]

The DR Congo military said on Sunday it had thwarted an “attempted coup” near the offices of President Felix Tshisekedi in Kinshasa involving “foreigners and Congolese”.

19 May 24

[vague-humanoid]

How the West Uses Rwanda to Loot the DR Congo’s Riches

Kambale Musavuli from the Center for Research on the Congo joins the show to discuss the rapidly escalating conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo as fighting between the Rwandan backed-M23 rebel group and the Congolese army (FARDC) intensifies in the major city of Goma. Musavuli discusses the latest updates as well the protests that erupted across the country at US & EU embassies over the West’s complicity in the brutal proxy war for the DR Congo’s vast mineral wealth.