Utah man rejected $100K offer to join coup attempt in Congo

In Salt Lake City, a friend of a famous Congolese opposition leader's son declined a large sum of money to go to Congo as part of the family's security team during a failed coup. The friend, Daniel Gonzalez, revealed that he was offered $50,000 to $100,000 to guard the politician father for four months. He felt relieved he didn't go as he would have been in a dangerous situation. Marcel, the son, tried to persuade others, including his stepbrother Thompson, to join him in Congo by offering money and describing the trip as a vacation. The slain leader of the Congolese opposition party, Christian Malanga, considered himself the president of a shadow government in exile called the "New Zaire." He was a close friend to many. The attackers' entry into Congo remains unknown. Gonzalez, from Herriman, Utah, communicated with Marcel through Snapchat about the financial offer before the coup. Marcel assured him it was safe but didn't share details about his father's background. Despite the U.S. State Department advising against travel to Congo, Gonzalez initially considered the trip safe but changed his mind when his girlfriend asked him not to go. The situation involved a failed coup attempt in Congo, where Marcel, the son of a prominent Congolese opposition leader, tried to convince friends to join him by offering money and describing the trip as a vacation. Despite initial assurances of safety, the trip turned out to be dangerous, leading to concerns for the safety of those involved.