Drc Hands Over Americans Jailed Over Failed Coup

Three American citizens jailed over a failed coup attempt in the Democratic Republic of Congo DRC were handed over to the United States US custody after high-level talks between the two countries on security and mining deals, the DRC presidency told Reuters.

The presidency said the Americans had been transferred to US authorities after their sentences were commuted last week to serve their time at home.

The deal to hand over the Americans was finalised when US President Donald Trumps senior Africa adviser, Massad Boulos, travelled to the DRC to hold meetings with President Felix Tshisekedi in the capital Kinshasa.

Their release comes at a time of intensifying negotiations between Washington and Kinshasa. The US is open to exploring critical minerals partnerships, the State Department told Reuters last month, after the DRC pitched a minerals-for-security deal to the Trump administration.

Ahead of the trip, Trumps special envoy for hostage response had called on Tshisekedi to release the Americans.