No fewer than 51 suspects, including three Americans have appeared in court over their alleged involvement in an attempt to overthrow a democratic government in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) last month.
The trial is being broadcast live on national TV and radio from N’dolo military prison in the country’s capital, Kinshasa.
The accused persons were brought before a military court wearing blue-and-yellow shirts, marking their first appearance in public since the failed coup.
Arrested during attacks on the presidential palace and the home of an ally of President Félix Tshisekedi, they face multiple charges, including financing terrorism, murder and attempted assassination.
The US State Department says it has not been given access to its citizens in custody.
Six people were killed during the attempted coup on 19 May, including the suspected leader of the plot Christian Malanga.
The rest of the defendants were detained after the attack on the Palais de la Nation and the home of Vital Kamerhe, who is the parliamentary speaker.
Local media reports said the assailants were members of the New Zaire Movement linked to Malanga, a formerly exiled DR Congo politician who had acquired US citizenship.
His son Marcel Malanga is among the US nationals who were arrested.
Another is 21-year-old Tyler Thompson, whose family told the BBC this week they had “zero idea” how he had become entangled in the plan.
Videos taken in Kinshasa after the incident show Mr Thompson being hit with the butt of a rifle and repeatedly struck in the head by Congolese security forces.
Other individuals of different nationalities were also involved and are on trial, according to army spokesman General Sylvain Ekenge.
