Democratic Republic of Congo’s former vice chairman between 2003 and 2006 was imprisoned by the Worldwide Prison Court docket for greater than a decade, however was acquitted of a number of costs in 2018.
(Reuters Archive)
Democratic Republic of Congo’s former insurgent chief jailed by the Worldwide Prison Court docket, Jean-Pierre Bemba, has been appointed because the nation’s defence minister and deputy prime minister in a cupboard reshuffle.
Bemba’s appointment to the important thing positions come lower than a yr forward of Congo’s presidential elections, in response to Related Press on Friday.
DRC’s former vice chairman between 2003 and 2006, Bemba was later imprisoned by the ICC for greater than a decade, accused of murders, rapes and pillaging dedicated by his Motion for the Liberation of Congo forces within the neighboring nation of Central African Republic.
In a stunning ruling, he was acquitted by the ICC in 2018. Bemba has at all times maintained his innocence.
Bemba’s return to distinguished authorities positions comes 9 months forward of DRC’s presidential elections scheduled for December.
Bemba’s political comeback was probably determined to assist President President Felix Tshisekedi win votes in DRC’s war-torn northeast, the place Bemba’s insurgent group was fashionable within the Nineties and 2000s, say analysts.
READ MORE: Burundi to deploy troops to DRC’s risky east
“That is clearly a pre-election reshuffle and Jean-Pierre Bemba has been appointed to convey his supporters in line to rally behind the president forward of the race,” stated Benjamin Hunter, Africa analyst for Verisk Maplecroft, a danger evaluation agency.
“Regardless of Bemba’s earlier imprisonment by the ICC, he’s a political heavyweight with the patronage networks and get in touch with guide to assist Tshisekedi’s election marketing campaign,” he stated.
Battle in japanese DRC has been simmering for many years with greater than 120 armed teams combating for energy, land, sources and a few to defend their communities.
Tshisekedi got here to workplace in 2019 promising to stem DRC’s instability and violence, but it surely’s solely elevated.
Different new authorities postings within the Cupboard reshuffle embrace Tshisekedi’s former chief of workers, Very important Kamerhe, who was named the minister of the economic system.
Kamerhe was sentenced to twenty years in jail however was acquitted final yr.
Antipas Mbusa Nyamwisi, a former warlord in Ituri province was appointed minister of state for nationwide integration.
READ MORE:
Angola to ship armed forces to conflict-torn Democratic Republic of Congo
Supply: AP