Mokoko's bail hearing adjourned to August 16

A court in the Congolese capital, Brazzaville has adjourned to August 16, the hearing of a bail application filed by a former presidential aspirant General Jean Marie Michel Mokoko.

General Mokoko, a former Chief of Staff of Congo’s Armed Forces has been in detention since mid June.

He was arrested on charges of endangering the state’s security after a video of him purportedly plotting a coup went viral before the country’s March 20 presidential election.

He was also charged for “illegal possession of weapons and ammunition.”

But lawyer for General Mokoko, Yvon-Eric Ibouanga has said he will continue to push for his client bail arguing that “there is no reason” for his continued detention.

The court is expected to hear closing arguements from the lawyers when the case is called on August 16.

There had been calls from a section of the opposition for a presidential pardon the former military head but it seems that appeal has gone unheeded.

Jean Marie Mokoko resigned from his position as a peace and security adviser to president Sassou Nguesso in February this year to enable him contest the March elections.

Denis Sassou Nguesso won a third term in office extending his 32-year rule over the oil producing central African nation.

General Mokoko had opposed the president’s victory and called for civil disobedience before his arrest.