South African Press Association

South Africa: U.S. Citizen Among 19 Congolese Coup Plotters

7 February 2013
Photo: Sylvain Liechti/UN
Residents of Rutshuru Territory flee their homes to seek safety in Goma.

Johannesburg — A US citizen was among 19 people who appeared in a South African court on Thursday to face charges of plotting a coup against the government of Congo.

A spokesman for the US Embassy told dpa the US citizen was identified as James Kazongo, a man with Congolese origins. The other 18 plaintiffs are citizens of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It was unclear how he entered South Africa.

A US diplomat was able to visit Kazongo this week.

Police arrested the 19 on Tuesday on allegations of transgressing the Foreign Military Assistance Act.

South Africa is home to many Congolese migrants, including refugees.

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