By John Ikani
Thousands of soldiers marched through the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo on Saturday just days after reports of a failed coup plot.
Heritage Times gathered that the march was a show of force in support of President Felix Tshisekedi’s government.
It was also intended to send out the message that the country is in safe hands, correspondents say.
Recall that reports of a failed coup plot in Congo emerged days ago, pressing Tshisekedi to leave abruptly an African Union Summit in Addis Ababa.
Presidential spokesman, Tharcisse Kasongo Mwema said on TV on February 8, that investigations were ongoing and added that “no attempt to destabilize democratic institutions would be tolerated.”
According to human rights activist Georges Kampiamba, the outcome of the investigation is expected to shed light on the arrest of presidential security adviser Francois Beya by forces from Congo’s National Intelligence Agency last Saturday.
No details have been released about his arrest, though he was believed to still be in National Intelligence Agency’s custody
Beya is said to have helped President Tshiseki build a coalition with Kabila’s still very influential political party. However, Felix Tshisekedi dissolved that alliance two years later amid political deadlock.
Although there has been no official declaration, some sources say Congo’s national intelligence agency think Francois Beya organised meetings to destabilize the Government.