An army general in the Republic of Congo has been put under house arrest over an alleged coup plot in the Central African country.
According to a local media portal, ICIBRAZZA, General Norbert Dabira, who incidentally is a relative of president Denis Sassou Nguesso is currently under arrest by the General Directorate for Territorial Surveillance (DGST) as at Thursday, December 7, 2017.
They were no further details on the date of the alleged coup and how it was foiled by the security agencies. Political watchers are, however, branding the arrest as part of government efforts to silence critics.
President Sassou Nguesso has ruled the country for over three decades spanning two periods. From 1979 to 1992. He returned five years later in 1997 and has been president to date. He is one of the continent’s longest-serving leaders.
In 2015, a controversial constitutional referendum removed presidential limits which allowed him to stand in the elections of March 2016, he won over 60% of the votes according to the elections body. His victory was also affirmed by the constitutional court.
A former general and ally turned political opponent, Jean Marie Michel Mokoko, remains in detention after calling for a revolt in the wake of Sassou’s electoral victory in the 2016 polls.
