BBC
The family of a US man detained in the Democratic Republic of Congo says they have “zero idea” how he became entangled in an abortive coup attempt last month.
Utah resident Tyler Thompson, 21, was travelling outside the US for the first time with his friend Marcel Malanga, whose father reportedly led the attempted coup.
Fifty suspects, including three Americans, were detained after the 19 May incident, which saw dozens of heavily armed men occupy the Palais de la Nation, the office of the DRC’s president.
Mr Thompson’s family have not heard anything about him since and US consular officials have not been allowed to see him.
The BBC has contacted the Congolese army and information ministry for comment.
The attempted coup was reportedly organised by Christian Malanga, a formerly exiled DR Congo politician who was shot dead by Congolese forces in Kinshasa, reportedly after resisting arrest.
Six people were killed during the attacks on the presidential palace and the home of a close ally of DR Congo President Felix Tshisekedi.
