U.S. Embassy in Congo Raises Concerns Over Access to Americans Arrested in Coup Attempt

The U.S. Embassy in Congo is trying to help Americans who were arrested after a coup attempt. The Congolese authorities have not shared details or allowed access to the arrested Americans. One family is worried about their son and wants to know if he is okay. The Congo army named three Americans involved in the attack by an opposition figure named Christian Malanga on May 19. The U.S. State Department is focused on helping Americans detained in other countries. They want to make sure the detained Americans get medical care and find a lawyer who speaks English. The U.S. Embassy asked the authorities in Congo to let them see the detained Americans, but they have not been allowed to do so yet. The fate of the arrested Americans is uncertain. Six people died, and many were arrested during the coup attempt. A video on social media showed Marcel being taken into custody with another American, Tyler Thompson Jr. Thompson and Marcel were friends from high school. Thompson went to Africa with Marcel, thinking it was a paid vacation arranged by Malanga. Marcel was said to have offered money to friends to join him on a "security job" in Congo. Thompson's family is worried and doesn't know if he is still alive. They say he had no idea about Malanga's plans and didn't intend to get involved in politics or go to Congo. Marcel's mother believes her son is innocent and was just following his father's lead.