DR Congo puts army generals under house arrest for 'undermining security'

The Congolese military said on Saturday it recently arrested several of its soldiers, including senior officers, on suspicion of “highly reprehensible acts that undermine state security.”

Without specifying the numbers, army spokesman Maj. Gen. Sylvain Ekenge told reporters in the capital, Kinshasa, that the suspects were being held "under acceptable conditions" with limited freedoms under the law as investigations continue.

“It is true several generals and senior officers of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo are currently under house arrest for highly reprehensible acts that undermine state security,” Ekenge said.

“Their pre-trial detention has been extended at the request of prosecution.”

He said the suspects have been visited by the National Human Rights Commission.

Paul Nsapu, president of the country’s National Human Rights Commission, said the commission visited the suspects after receiving complaints about alleged deplorable conditions from their families.

He said the officers are in “good health and doctors visit them regularly.”

In July, the army arrested former army chief Lt. Gen. Christian Tshiwewe and several other military officers in Kinshasa on allegations of plotting to overthrow the government of President Felix Tshisekedi.