The president of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has commuted the death sentences of three Americans convicted of attempting a coup to life imprisonment, days before US government officials are due to visit the central African country.

President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Felix Tshisekedi on Tuesday granted a presidential pardon to several coup plotters of American origin, who had been sentenced to death, according to official sources.

Congo’s president has commuted the death sentences of three Americans convicted on charges of participating in a botched coup attempt in the country’s capital of Kinshasa last year